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 Mutharika: Lost her government job
Saonda: Fired from public service

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.

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Nalingula
Nalingula
5 years ago

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.

Ndendeuli
Ndendeuli
5 years ago

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.

Dziko lamasiye
Dziko lamasiye
5 years ago

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. ..

ndalema
ndalema
5 years ago

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

Chatamatumba
Chatamatumba
5 years ago

Comment reserved

Ndendeuli
Ndendeuli
5 years ago
Reply to  Chatamatumba

Mbuzi iwe eti! Then bwanji osangosiya kulemba. Pano ndi pa ma comments!

Jabes
5 years ago

Chitsilu ndi chomwe chikulamulira malawi 🇲🇼 munochi kaya mumati apm zili komweko ulamuliro wake ndiumeneso umuchotsetse pampando

Tariq
Tariq
5 years ago

A Yale professor can’t govern ethically. And we lie to ourselves that education is key: it isn’t. Munthu kaye, sukulu pambuyo.

Yuyu
Yuyu
5 years ago

Callista amapocherabe ndalama without working ngati nephew wake Chilima? Koma APM is a good man.

CESSPOOL SIMALOTO
CESSPOOL SIMALOTO
5 years ago

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… Read more »

mtete
mtete
5 years ago

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.

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