Mkaka shielding Buluma as Nocma staff protests against acting CEO
There is drama over the post of acting chief executive officer (CEO) for State-owned National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) Hellen Buluma as days after President Lazarus Chakwera instructed Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) ZangaZanga Chikhosi to “address the anomaly” of appointing deputy CEO Buluma as acting CEO, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eisenhower Mkaka has put his full weight behind her while members of staff have made serious allegations against the boss.
Chakwera asked Chikhosi as board chairperson of Nocma to sort the matter, saying the public outcry against her appointment had merit as she is a known operative of the former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
But Nyasa Times understands that Chikhosi is facing pressure from Mkaka, who is also Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary-general to ensure Buluma stay put at Nocma and as boss.
“There is adverse interest from Mkaka to save Buluma,” sources at Capital Hill, the seat of government in Lilongwe said.
The sources said Mkaka says Buluma was not given the Nocma jon on political loyalty but merit and that in keeping the spirit of promoting women in leadership positions, she should be spared.
But other government officals, say Mkaka’s support is not on principal but based on “private liaison” with Buluma.
Meanwhile, staff at Nocma their letter to the board chairperson of the company seen by Nyasa Times, allege that since Buluma took charge of the affairs of the company she has created a working environment that is not only demoralizing but also adverse to productivity at the company.
“First, we are infuriated by Ms. Buluma’s offensive disrespect for staff in her communication. To express displeasure with an employee’s action or lack of it, which we accept she is entitled to as institution head, Ms. Buluma has the tendency of deploying demeaning and insulting language. We find this repugnant and unacceptable as we are fully aware of the need for our human dignity to be respected regardless of our positions in the organization,” reads the letter dated November 5 2020.
They further state that in her state of anger, Buluma makes unfounded and wild allegations against staff members without seeking recourse to existing systems to establish the truth.
“Some of the allegations that she has, so far, made against staff are, in fact, criminal in nature. We abhor this approach to business as it breeds apprehension in staff. Thirdly, we are displeased with Ms. Buluma’s tendency to threaten staff with unspecified disciplinary action over petty issues that can be resolved through ordinary laid down organizational procedures. This, regrettably, torments staff and leaves them demotivated,” claim the staff members.
Buluma is also said to have a ‘Ms Know-it-all’ attitude, which tempts her to force staff members to do things her way, without creating space for negotiation or to listen to alternative views from professionals and specialists in their respective fields.
“We know very well that despite her authority, Ms. Buluma cannot always be right. We are aware of our right and obligation to offer solutions to organizational challenges. We feel worthless when the Acting CEO demonstrates outright that she is unwilling to listen to alternative views or professional advice. Last but not least, Ms. Buluma has cultivated the culture of gossip within the organization. On many occasions, it has been established that Ms. Buluma finds pleasure in gossiping about, and backstabbing, staff.
“This is so repulsive and unhealthy to the life of the organization. In addition, we find this disposition not befitting her high office. It is painful to inform you, Sir, that Ms. Buluma’s toxic relationship with staff is now regrettably irreparable. We feel victimized by the Acting CEO’s manner of relating with us staff who actually earned our employment with Nocma on merit,” continues the letter.
The staff members have vowed not to work under Buluma’s leadership in any capacity within the organization.
They have demanded that Buluma should be moved out of Nocma not later than 30th November, 2020, warning her continued stay at the company will force the staff members to suspend all company operations at all levels indefinitely.
“Please note that what we have at Nocma in terms of relations between Ms. Buluma and staff is a hopeless situation that cannot be redeemed with the Acting CEO walking the corridors of the company. Simply put, we are currently a dejected team because of Ms. Buluma’s conduct and ill treatment of staff. We sincerely hope that the Board will take necessary action so that, we, employees, can continue serving this country by ensuring consistent supply of liquid fuel,” they conclude.
Nocma board suspended CEO Gift Dulla and director of finance (DoF) Richard Milanzi to pave the way for investigations into alleged financial and procurement mismanagement at the entity.
The board appointed Buluma as acting CEO with Dingiswayo Sambo as acting DoF.
Nocma Limited is wholly-owned by the Government of Malawi and was formed in line with the National Energy Policy of January 2003, but was registered on December 14 2010 under the Companies Act of 1984.
The strategic company is involved in fuel importation, storage at strategic fuel reserves and distribution nationwide. It is complemented by Petroleum Importers Limited, a consortium of private sector petroleum trading companies.
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What I have seen in all this scenario is that the State President has not been advised properly and may I humbly request those who offer advice to work diligently to avoid situation of political retribution against what Tonse Alliance advocated.
While MS Mbuluma may have not been the right candidate to be picked but what is coming up does not hold water.
The people complaining are doing so because The State President had already talked bad about her.The board made that choice after carefully thought about all factors unless now the board will he carries away to make another decision basing on allegations labelled against the lady through the State President.Is this whay we voted for??
We did not vote for a State President to be used as Party President and we would like Tonse alliance to put its house in.order.
We are not happy to see the cabinet minister behave as though he is in opposition.While the Cabinet Minister might have better ideas than those advocated by the State President , then there are procedures to be followed how to do that.And it is my expectation that the orientation of cabinet minister which was conducted covered that area .We do.not.want to see a repeat of such scenario again .
We do not want to see situation where the State President is saying one thing the secretary general of the party is saying a different thing al together.
You are one family, please teach your subordinates how you The State President and Your vice conduct yourselves in public.
May I sight one incident where the State President demonstrated maturity .He cancelled the meeting at Kamuzu Palve to attend public lecturer delivered by his VP. Was that not what well wishers wanted to happen?????
We are not happy seeing our State President giving orders to his Secretary in public, a thing which should have been done in private.
Why do I say so?
The moment such orders are given in.public they attract unnecessary attention and the public now follow up with additional monitoring eye and the result is what is now coming out connecting the cabinet Minister.
My plea to the State President is to be calm and sober in all his conduct and behavior; a thing which we have always seen in him.
These appointments to serve as board members took enough time and we did not envisage the early decisions made by such boards to be challenged publicly by the State President.What advice are we giving our beloved State President??
We would.not be happy to see our friends being victimised.because they are percieved to belong to different political party.To avoid such incident , do not rush to make decisions .
Please appoint people on merit not basing on party affiliation otherwise the Malawi wa Tonse ativutirapo ndithu.
You had time to write all the nonsense in this forum and unfortunately Nyasa crew accepted to take it on board. On the ballot box there was no kind of tonse alliance but torch bearer, in this case was Dr Chakwera.
MKAKA FIRED FROM FM B, NOW HE IN LOVE WITH THIS WOMAN, DO YOU PROOF MR MINISTER? KANANI MUONE.Mkaka is slowly becoming a very powerful figure in MCP, WATCH OUT
I listened to the president comment on mbuluma saying that the workers concerns were genuine because they allege she is Dpp. Chakwera it appears to me does not believe he is the president of Malawi but behaves like he is for mcp only. Malawi has several parties and after elections the president represents all these parties.
Mkaka is becoming very powerful now than Chakwera in the manner we see things.A Chakwera Samalani ndi munthu ameneyu though he has interest in the woman.
i know this lady Helen Buluma as a hardworking woman, as i know she has qualifications which fits for this appointment akunenawo ndi a MCP ofuna kukhala pa mpando chifukwa choti chipani chawo chawina, osati kudziwa ntchito
@ Patriot this is well spoken. Am a lady and i have learnt something. Going back to the Bible, men are natural leaders and i didnt know that it is bcoz of the testosterone hormone which is completely absent in women to guide development of positive leadership skills.
Now, it requires a balance from the lady to provide good leadership at an institution. The bible does not condone ladies to be pastors, now i know. So this gender imbalance preached by many ladies for high positions should be viewed with caution.
Only those ladies who can demonstarte that they arewell balanced should be given an opportunity to lead OTHERWISE THE REST OF US WE NEED AN INJECTION OF TESTOSTRERON HORMONE KKKKKKKKKKKKK
Gender equality yavuta
It is not recommended for women to lead in churches not because of lack of skills or competences but rather how they will relate to men at large given the psychological background. Further more, the social dynamics in religion are so forbidding for women leadership and therefore recommended to avoid having women pastors. Ofcoz there are some ladies who are so exceptional. There was deep wisdom why men were instituted for headship both for homes or churches.
This doesn’t mean however that women are lesser beings than men because from the Bible perspective God created men and women equal but functionally different. The headship of men is a functional aspect not a sign of superiority. Having a proper understanding of this we can have mutual respect and the gender equality issues would take a different but honest route.
Deborah was a leader in the bible which bible r u talking about?
She is the right Candidate to be there
The allegations cited in the letter written by these disgruntled workers are all cooked up to say the least.In a nutshell they are driven by the three time honoured enemies: njala, nthenda,nsanje
Kodi anthu ogwira ntchito mu boma samavota? Nanga ngati amavota kodi onse amayenera kukhala a chipani chimodzi? Zomati uyu ndi wa DPP, uyu ndi wa UTM kapena MCP sizitithandiza. Tiyeni tiziwona kuthekera kwa munthu osati chipani chomwe amasapota.
They are priritising politics not ability ya anthu. Nde angonena kuti tisamavote
It’s a psychological phenomenon. Women have naturally lower levels of testosterone for assertiveness and leadership positions and once appointed to those big positions their levels of the hormone overshoots and they usually become more than assertive and would want to fend off any opposing views. They indicate this unusual power and harshness dictated by the unbalanced hormone. Ofcoz there are exceptions but usually you will see most powerful women unnecessarily try to dominate in a strange way. Seen it in different organizations. This comes out to be strange for most traditional men who prefer submission or atleast mildness from the ladies.
It is important for ladies in power to realize this and work towards controlling their emotional intelligence to atleast come out to be well balanced and emotionally stable for positions. Women leaders need a special leadership training different from that given to men. It’s time we acknowledge that men and women are functionally different.
Perfect analysis and explanation
This being the case, you may agree with me that any proposal or suggestions from men against them is taken as insubordination based on chauvinistic ideology even when the adverse ideas are there for the healthy management of the organization.
Eventually, they do not hesitate to fire the source especially men to instill fear so that they shouldn’t be in for blind loyalty and praising.
Most women in big posts feed on men to survive by sending them packing so that others should be hand clappers…especially those close to them with papers, you are always seen as a threat even when one is just doing his job.
Please, our women bosses, do not take adverse viewpoints as degrading or disrespecting you, they are there to build you after all decisions made will be reflecting how you manage an organization.
za manyi.
I don’t like this Mkaka guy. People that will bring Chakwera down because of their greed.
Mkaka usamele mapiko,,ukapanda kusamala anthu akuthothola nthenga.
Ndipo. His (Mkaka) name keeps coming up on negative things. People that do not have the country at heart but only personal interest…
I feel the allegation from members of staff might be true because often women when in leadership position dares any suggestion or alternatives from lower levels.
Sexist remark and not true. We can say the same about men…. mxieww
What Monosile says is true, actually, very, very true…..we have more than enough evidence to that effect!
i understand the lady was once into frontline pollitics and was dpp ,this alone to me gives the idea that it is difficuit for her to advocate for the tonse government philosophy,she will be trying to sabotage the business of tonse government,she might have come through proper channel as others have said but with this connection to dpp she might have been made into the insitution by legalizing her coming in and promoting her so fast agin using the said procedures.what i would have loved to happen is to make a better informed decision by calling her to a meeting and and outline all the said concerns and another job not at nocma.why because kaya mufune or ayi uyu sathandiza tonse government just like mmene alili ma ceo awa,lihaco,lilongwe water board,ADL,ESCOM,MANEB, just to mention a few.it may look like we hate them but believe you me njoka saweta.
If there is one thing that I find disgusting and disdainful with governments is the apparent failure to respect their boards. This has prolonged for too long here in Malawi and needs to be stopped forthwith. Much as some of us don’t like this Buluma of a lady for having some DPP trails, we still find it unparatable to find people like Mkaka to meddle the affairs of a separate and independent organization like NOCMA.
Above all things, there is too much stories and too soon for this MKAKA that are going around. The president must act swiftly to these allegations otherwise he will have himself to blame sooner than later if this MKAKA becomes a replica of the Mchachas of this world.
I rest my case.
Mkaka para wakhaliska ukuzgoka Chambiko.
Mkaka is overzealous, be humble young man. Remember the world is watching
akuona ngati afikapo. vuto la kusadziwa kutseka ma zip ndilimenelo. he is not even fit to be minister of foreign affairs. wayamba kale kutenga tizibwenzi take tipite kuma embassy.
Does Chakwera know that we fought for multiparty democracy. And does he know the meaning of multiparty. Malawians were not fools then to vote out one party system. Chakwera should tell us tikhale achipani chiti kuti Boma like itilemba ntchito
Mkaka is also shielding Rejoyce Chaponda Shumba as PRO at Foreign Affairs. All seconded staff were asked to go back but she remained at Capital Hill because Mkaka said so.
ndinati chani ine. nkhani ndi kukwera
Mkaka akukondwa ndi kukongola kwa kamzimayika (Shumba) kkkkkk
This Milk boy is overzelous. He is too childsh to be a minister let alone for Foreign Affairs. The goodness is that there is reshufle in December. I will be suprised if he is retained as a minster
Tsopano mukamati “private liaison” ndiye kuti chain? Che Mkaka amatotafuna ?
Yeah this is a sad situation but i think we also need to hear Ms Buluma’s side of the story then a decision will be made. Let’s put a right of every Malawian Citizen on an equal footing. You’ve presented your case as employees so let’s hear the other side
Exactly
The allegations against Buluma if studied carefully lack merit. They are driven by jalouse . No specific incident has been cited and appear to be politically motivated. Let them lay down specific charges against her for the Board to make a decision otherwise it sets a very bad precedence that fellow workers can agitate for the removal of a fellow employee. Dziko lino linawola basi
nsanje ndikaduka zakalekale.am convinced the reasons put 4wad
mdyomba yankhulani chichewa
This Mkaka guy is really useless. I support Tonse alliance but I don’t like him at all at all. He is simply not a likable guy.
But how can people like Mkaka run the affairs of the Govt. Chakwera this is another Mtchatcha in the DPP regime. Just eliminate him or find out why is he backing Buluma.
Chakwera we cant afford to be keeping people like Mkaka at the peril of Tax payers money. No non nono.
This man contaminates the Tonse Govt and the whole political landscape of Malawi
The allegations against her are frivolous and stupid to say the least..I believe she is hated because she follows work procedures and those who want to cut corners are the ones complaining. They have not said anything about her education because they know she is highly qualified. Mbuluma and Nkaka went to polytechnic.
Majelasi. People don’t like a woman ontop.
apart from the bedroom
Hahahahahaha u have made my day bro, exactly we only need them ontop in the bedroom, thats where they are very effective lol
A chief secretary a Zangazanga Chikhosi ndi a Mkaka mufuna inuyo mupange undermine the presidents directive chifukwa uyu ndi mkazi? Mugwa pompano.
A Mkaka munali munthu wabwino and opemphera okonda banja lawo pano mwalemera ndalama munalandira ku fab ija ndi u minister basi Helen wakupengetsani mwayamba kuomba madzi kudya katundu.i saw a future MCP leader and future Malawi president in u koma izi zokha zikufoiritsani.zitayeni.helen sakuthandizani
Aaaaaah Mkaka akutafuna Buluma? Too bad.
Mkaka is a snake. He is a serious threat to tonse alliance as he is one of key master minds to bring about rifts between UTM and MCP. He is becoming too big for his boots. How comes chakwera is not initiating investigations on mkaka and how has he accumulated so much wealth in such short time. MCP cronies seems to be following dpp footsteps in corrupt practices. He is totally compromising government by having intimate relationships with woman associated with dpp. This will also result in corruption and stealing public funds.
Mkaka angotaya naye nthawi Hellen. Zangazanga Chikhosi anadyamo kale mmenemo. Anadyanso mea mzimayi amuingitsa ku fodya uja kuti amupatse fake contract.
Not all dpp supporters are evil lets move forward. We ar all Malawians kukhala wa mcp sikuti ndiwe oposa ena ,izi ndizomwe dpp anagwela coz kukhal mulomwe and dpp umakhala osagwilika tiyeni tisinthe zinthu mowona mtima not kunamizana
iyayi ankolo dpp inachita zinthu zonyaaaaaasa mmalawi. anthu kumangochosa ntchito, kuikapo anthu osaphunzira. we can not afford to have chibuma kaya muti buluma on such key position. she openly declared kuti ndi die hard wa dpp. chonde achoke. ife sititumikira mkaka. this is our country and sitifuna anthu opwetekana ngati a dpp.
But not worse than MCP, Eeeehhh Congress was worse,,,,kumakhoma misomali mumitu ya anthu, no no no no that was too Achimwene.
I find Mkaka’s apparent insurbodination very disturbing. Maybe. Now we know that despite everything else negative about Buluma someone is salivating at the lady.
All these problems are because of Chakwera. The NOCMA members of staff have been encouraged by Chakwera’s outbursts. Why doesn’t he respect the decision of the board which he himself appointed. If government gives in to staff demands, then there will be chaos in the public service.
So, Mkaka is more powerful than the president himself???
Ndipo eti…
You miss understand, read again.