Malawi govt fires 3 UTM members: Callista, Saonda and Mbekeani
Malawi government has terminated employment contracts of three public officers including former first lady Callista Mutharika, George Saonda and Chiza Mbekeani who are aligned to the United Transformation Movement (UTM), predominantly breakaway political grouping from the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Callista – the widow of former president Bingu wa Mutharika and in-law of incumbent President Peter Mutharika – who worked as presidential adviser on safe motherhood, Saonda who served as director of administration in the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs deputy director of administration Mbekeani have been fired for their involvement in politics.
The head of the civil service, Lloyd Muhara in a letter to Mbekeani dated September 19 2018 Reference number CS/S/001 wrote that his services were no longer required because of his “active involvement in politics,”
However, the Chief Secretary wrote Mbekeani again on September 28 2018 alongside Saonda, stating that their employment contracts were terminated because their services were “no longer required.”
In June this year, Muhara issued a memo to all heads of government institutions advising civil servants wishing to contest for political office to resign before doing so.
However, the Office of President and Cabinet has not cracked the whip on chief director responsible for safe motherhood and maternal health, Chimwemwe Chipungu, who doubles as DPP organising secretary.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), who wrote the Chief Secretary in June demanding action on all civil servants vying for political office, said they are taking the matter to court.
Chipungu has come out in the open to contest for a parliamentary seat for Thyolo South West Constituency on DPP ticket while his deputy at Safe Motherhood and Maternal Health, Clement Mwale, lost to Grezelder Jeffrey on the position of secretary general at the convention, and is still serving as deputy director responsible for training in the Ministry of Health under the Safe Motherhood and Maternal Health Initiative.
Efforts to talk to Muhara on why he is not enforcing his directive to the DPP members proved futile.
UTM stands for Transformation that’s what they say – draining the swamp .Now having known that you are Now in Active Politics you should have Resigned honourably – munakawoneka ngati Anthu oziwa Malamulo.Nanga Anthu akusiyanisani bwanji ndi DPP Ngati simukusata Malamulo.As for DPP we all know that they believe they are Above the Law.
Chiza Mbekeani ndi MCP yomwe alibe koma mpaka anamupatsa u deputy director coz he took an injunction against the demos that led to the death of 20 people nthawi ya Bingu. He has been used like a condom. Stupid boy.
Whilst those in power and in control of resources are busy feasting, the poor are getting poorer. If it were not for donors, our health systems and economic empowerment interventions would have collapsed. For those who feel DPP should continue they need to think about legacy. If we tolerate DPP mediocrity, this country will be run down and we will all go down together because when we become a failed state you won’t be able to spend your I’ll gotten wealth. ..
nanunso mwatsala ndi 7 months Malawians will let you know that your services are not appreciated at the voting booth! You will be declared redundant on May 21st
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Mbuzi iwe eti! Then bwanji osangosiya kulemba. Pano ndi pa ma comments!
Chitsilu ndi chomwe chikulamulira malawi 🇲🇼 munochi kaya mumati apm zili komweko ulamuliro wake ndiumeneso umuchotsetse pampando
A Yale professor can’t govern ethically. And we lie to ourselves that education is key: it isn’t. Munthu kaye, sukulu pambuyo.
Callista amapocherabe ndalama without working ngati nephew wake Chilima? Koma APM is a good man.
All along aunt callista has been aware of having crossed the red line the question when she stop getting her monthly dues? Csllista doesn’t give a hoot to the sack! She hopes that UTM won’t be a side dish come May 21st next year. She has massive grudges against her in-law APM. Our beloved professor is cracking the whip the DPP is employing propaganda and dismissals. But UTM has given the electorate a fascinating podium performance with well outlined visionary programme. Malawi has been enriched with their advent the political debates are flowing with arguments unseen until today Bravo Mabonda carry on!!!
Come May 2019, all the fired people will be reinstated. APM will have fled to USA and the rest of the hoodlums will wish they were MCP.
DPP is too jittery. They would shoot at anything that moved were it in the western movies.
Our president is too confused he can approve the erection of the nonentity Mahatma. Our sovereignty has indeed gone to the dogs.
So Ibu wanted Calista to tow his line when he told her that she’ll not walk alone? Can’t he borrow a leaf from families that belong to different parties, bearing in mind everyone has the right of choice? Sakudziwa kuti achina Ngolongoliwa, Mulli, Gertrude & many otherr are supporting the movement & are just fooling him?
I can’t blame government for the plan to dismiss these people it is the right thing to do. Anyone would have done the same. These people cannot serve the interest of the government, rather than being spies in the government. No company or organisation willl allow those that does not serve the mission of the organisation to continue. Those who are ragging with anger tell me, can you keep anyone in your company that does not follow the core values of the organisation ? Sometimes we need to put our political gear off and think outside our political line and see if that is right or wrong. Don’t just support them for the sake of supporting the utm, that is not right.
The real issue and scandal here is that hand clappers and ululators with no qualifications or job experience are recruited into mainline civil service at director or deputy director levels. Obviously the fired few if the many are likely non lomwe who fell out with their benefactors and have now joined UTM and will be looking forward to getting back in govt pay roll if UTM wins. Shame!
I have never seen a democratic govt that makes and implements laws and policies at whim with inconsistent application. Though the firing of the three people may be justified but the govt cannot use the reasoning that have placed in the media or their internal memo. There are so many, many civil servants who are also active in the political parties including ministers in the cabinet (they work for the government and yet they have positions in DPP and quite active). These people who double-up as civil servants are paid for both roles (in the party and govt).
Inunso mwatsala ndi 7 months Malawians will terminate your contract with them at the voting booths, your services will be declared redarndat on May 21st 2019’
DPP just showing us that it was employing people into positions in government based on their allegiance to the party and not requirements in the Civil Service and there are many more who are in government positions and in Embassies who are there as a reward for loyalty to the DPP and not as a requirement for Civil Service. Now you want us to vote for you with these blantant abuse of power? Mwauponda. One term basi!
So these people were employed coz they supported DPP. Shame to both DPP and the people fired. You are all a con to this country Malawi. Now the wheels are coming off DPP you have joined UTM in the hope that it will win and continue plundering. Cry my beloved country………UTM guys pretending to be saviours when in fact you want to continue. Saonda I thought you are genuine not knowing you had the job coz of wakwithu syndrome. Mai Callista you were receiving salary whilst promoting UTM – what a shame. If you are indeed genuine as you say you are, why didn’t you resign? Return all the money who have been receiving. UTM and DPP are just the same……..as the journey continues
A Calista mumangodya ndalama za boma koma ntchito munasiya kugwira kalekale just like bwana wanu womwa kachatsoyo akamapita ku msonkhano wake- SKC. Mbava zenizeni reaping on where they did not sow. Akukhala nyumba ya Boma, kuyendera galimoto ya boma but he is not performing any work. Che Saulosi kuba kupose apa. Now look at Calista Chapola mayi wolalat ngati uyu sindinamuone. Abwzenso ndalama zomwe wakhala akulandira since she waa appointed to her position because no work was done
Useless government. With educated people but behave like savages.
Mbuzi imadyera pomwe ayimangilira, mukhaula mumvetsa, mulira simunati. Ukaziputa limba nazo.
Mwayesa la manu dzikoli eti? You will not be there foreever. You will feel great pain one day.
kkkkkkk Aalex olo mutukwane ndati mukhaula ada, munyeredwa muona. Nanga akamusunge Calista pa mpando ochita advise president, amuchita advise chiyani? Achoke baasi, palowe anthu omwe agwire ntchito yawo.
Good point Aalex … DPP think they own the country. Azapeza polekera. Honestly though SKC has advocated politics of no retribution there must be exceptions. These people should be given the same treatment as they are giving others once they get out on 21st May.
Pathfinder, you are a pathetic empty headed dweeb. You guys think you will be there forever. Kunali anthu oopsa eni eni pano ali kuti. Analiko, anapita, inunso mulipo muzapitanso. Muzachokapo polamulapo. It’s daft bunch of people like you who are very short sighted have put Malawi where it is now because all your energies are for short term gains, filling up your pockets. DPP has no vision for future generations. All you care about is kusolola… a pumbwa inu! Mbava
Yes mulomwe mwina DPP idzachoka koma oyichotsa si chilima ada, mwagwa nayo. Mulomwe umboni omwe muli nawo wokhuza akuba, bwanji osakachita report kapena kuchita present evidence yoposa zomwe mukuwerenga pa news pepala? Pamtumo pako ndithu chifukwa chondinena kuti ndili pathetic,Nanyongo wamako. Ukuganiza tonse tingatsatire zipani zanu zomwe atsogoleri ake ndi akachaso zanuzo? Mavuzi amako ndithu.
Nepotism at its best. The law’s hand must be long to everyone.
What about the Attorney General
Attorney general can be an MP.
He is a lawyer for the government and he is allowed to be an MP, or an MP can be appointed as AG.
Tell them anyapapiwa sakudziwa kuti akulimbana ndi boma la ma lawyer. Bingu uja amapezelera coz he was just an economist.
kkkkkk wanenetsa pamenepo ada, anyeredwa agaluwa.
Za ziii. Lawyer wanu akungozunza anthu.
Don`t worry, you will be in the Government next year! Zisiyeni izi
True, APM ndipamamaliziro pa ma lawyer. He knows our Republican Constitution in and out. He drafted it after all.
i wish every contributor of ideas was objective in their analysis!! The issue here should never be a mere tit for tat but implications for doing the same!! If you soberly look back and appreciate the decisions Mhango has been making within the last two months, you may agree that he is more of a liability to Malawians for his decisions will cost us more than the benefit!! And the above is the reason the constitution recommends that officers to be in these positions need to be non-partisan!! Unless someone knows nothing about the above, then the sentiments may be ……………………………………………………!!