Mayor accuses suspended Lilongwe City boss of inciting strike
The suspended Lilongwe City Council chief executive officer Moza Zeleza is being accused to have allegedly coaxed juniors workers to stage a sit-in strike protesting against Zeleza’s forced leave and removal of Mayor Desmond Bikoko.
Zeleza was sent on forced leave for three months by the Ministry of Local Government and Riral Development last week to pave way for an investigation into the council’s “gross underperformance”
Lilongwe district commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga has since been appointed LCC CEO.
Junior workers on Monday demonstrated and chanted anti Mayor songs demanding the ouster of the city father.
There was heavy police presence at the Civic offices in the early morning but after some discussions between the Mayor and members of the striking officials, the strike was quickly called off.
Mayor Bikoko said it is wrong and unlawful for a very Senior official like Mr Moza to incite strike.
“CEO went and told workers that Mayor and Councillors had recommended to the ministry that he be suspended thus the strike. Its sad and uncacceptable that Mr. Zeleza will go to that extent instead of accepting ministry decision to go on leave quitely. Its very clear to everyone that Lilongwe City Council is grossly underperforming especially under his leadership and ministry decision was right one,” Mayor Bikoko told Nyasa Times.
“He should not hold the city hostage at all. Every resident is crying out for improved service delivery and he was the officer tasked to supervise the team.”
Bikoko said he will give the new CEO his full support.
“We need to be moving forward and very fast and we will,” said Bikoko.
In a letter reference number C/61/01/03 to Zeleza, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Principal Secretary Kinswell Dakamau said the ministry will commence investigations into the performance of the council, which it says was a matter of concern to the city residents.
In the letter to Zeleza, the ministry said government was dissatisfied with the dismal performance of Lilongwe City Council in respect of implementation of projects and service delivery in general, saying it has led to loss of confidence in the council by the general public.
Reads the letter in part: “You may wish to know that the general public, including the mayor, councillors as well as city residents, have expressed deep concerns on deteriorating environmental cleanliness which subsequently poses a great health hazard to the city residents.”
Dakamau said other areas of concern to government include the below par performance in implementation of projects such as roads upgrading, street lights installations and poor implementation among directorates of the council activities and resolutions.
Reads the letter: “In view of the above, I write to inform you that on the directive of government, I grant you three months leave effective 16 May 2017 pending investigations into the causes that have led to the underperformances of the city council.”
Meanwhile, the councils’s union has advised all employees to resume work .
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Moza has committed alot of crimes at City Council. His own Directors complained about this guy. He wanted to control everything and even would not leave for his own holiday without calling the council to check on things. All Directors except Mombiwa and Mumba are happy. He has been outsmarted now we will give government all the evidence of what he was doing. He paid the workers Mk1,000,000.00 to strike and wonder where he got the money from. Yes I have proof of this.
Ana inu BIKOKO is there to work with full backing of the government. He is not too political and the president knows that he is an American guy like him. Musapusepo apa. The guy is Mcp but with good relationship with DPP
Actually even the junior servants should be fired. They are used to corruption so much that anyone trying to bring sanity is labeled bad
Koma zina ukaona. A Kongelesi okhaokha kumenyana. Bikoko wa Kongelesi. Moza wa Kongelesi. Ndiye Mwati Chakwera adzalamulira?
This is good news that The CEO is gone! Lilongwe is in a pathetic state just because the CEO was failing to implement Mayors plans and vision. We look forward to a great Lilongwe, we have waited for a long time
Ndasangalala ndi izi. Moza amapanga mwano. Wasala ndi Mwambiwa. Amaba kwambiri amenewa
Mr. Bikoko, remember that a leader should be slow to speak and react. A weakened Secretariat will in the end reflect negatively on you.
Aim to build, as opposed to destroying. While at it, be mindful that your position is not an executive position. Minimise interference in the day to day management of the Secretariat.
Good luck.
I agree with Bikoko.The city is indeed underperforming.
I agree with you Councillor that CEO in the Councils are mere slaves olamulidwa ndi ma Councilors a Std 5 indeed. Tiona ngati a Nakangawo atheko chaka. Maudindo amasiku ano omangoti yes bwana, none can perform better because of the fears that mawa kucha bwanji. Malawi dziko lomvetsa chisoni.
M’bomamu ma underpeformers ali thoooo kulimba ndi udindo wa ndale Ngati was LCC CEO.
Ayi Bikoko musiyeni akukonza zinthu . olakwa apa ndi Moza iye ananyengelera a Union kuti amuthandize kukhala mbali yake , chonchi city siyizakonzeka munthuyu ndi wozindikira and Moza ndi amene ali Mzereza ma Resolution , a full council sawatengera , amafuna kumapanga zake yekha ndi achipani cha DPP ndalama zambili zasakazika anthunu simukuziwa mongoti Moza alibwino , Zowonjezera malipilo its management and secretraint amene ali responsible not one person sono anthu musanamizane Revenue enhancement inalipo kale sikuuti wayambitsa ndi Moza ayi couuncillors came up with such proposals during his office . A union asatipusise suspension ya Moza ife isatikhuze itts… Read more »