Mulhakho ‘fires’ BLantyre Water Board procurement boss over contracts

Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has fired its procurement manager for failing to provide business contracts to members of  governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) influential cultural heritage group, Mulhakho wa Alhomwe, court documents seen by Nyasa Times  have revealed.

Members of Mulhakho wa Alhomwe

BWB board chairperson James Naphambo is also Mulhako wa Alhomwe trustee.

Documents at the Industrial Relations Court in Blantyre show that Andrew Puleni through his lawyers is asking the court to intervene after his removal as Procurement Manager for the State owned utility.

According to the documents, Puleni has been appointed as Administrative Manager, a position he reckons does not exist on the company’s hierarchy and regard as a demotion.

But the court documents claim that the genesis of Puleni’s downfall can be traced to dissatisfaction from members of the Mulhakho wa Alhomwe who allegedly made the instruction to the company’s CEO to remove Puleni from his position.

According to documents, among them a signed affidavit by Puleni, BWB  chief executive officer  verbally informed Puleni that the members of Mulhakho had instructed the CEO to remove him from his position.

The documents do not name any of the alleged members of the tribal grouping who pressured the board.

The IRC case is being heard by the court’s chairperson and first application for an injunction by Puleni to stop the transfer was made on 11th February 2020 but was unsuccessful as the court ordered for interparty hearing.

No date has been made yet for the full hearing, according to the court documents.

A lawyer representing Puleni but who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals as his law firm is also working for another party with interest on the case, said Puleni considers the new post as an attempt to just stop him from doing his work without firing him.

“He has a claim. Per hearing in court, we are seeking an order from transferring him from current position to administrative manager which he considers a lower rank. The order was not given but the judges have ordered full hearing,” said the lawyer.

According to the lawyer, the BWB officials or its lawyers were not in court hence the decision to call for a full hearing.

“They were not in court. They are yet to file any defense. No date has been given on full hearing,” said the lawyer.

Members of the  Lhomwe heritage group are often accused of using their connections to the ruling party and the presidency to obtain business deals in government but also jobs which has often led to accusations that the DPP administration is presiding over a cronyism and nepotism.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
13 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Odya Zake alibe mulandu
Odya Zake alibe mulandu
4 years ago

What did u expect Puleni??….rules of the game remain unchanged, u have reaped what u sown, obviously business mumapeleka kwa anzanu otsutsa boma a Puleni

Wiza
Wiza
4 years ago

This is very sad. We need to sustain the fight so that institutions such as BWB are freed from bondage so that they can benefit the ordinary people.

Pachalo
Pachalo
4 years ago

Mulhako, Mulhako, Mulhako! Polani moto guys! Dont behave as if your tribe will rule Malawi for ever! One day you will be out of government and you will see nyekhwe! Polani moto….kungoti zinthu zinakupezani mochedwa a moyamoya inu!

Chechamba
Chechamba
4 years ago

IT IS THIS STUPID LOMWELISATION POLICY INTRODUCED BY LATE BINGU MUTHALIKA THAT HAS MADE MCP TO BE STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.AT A TIME LIKE THIS ONE NEXT YEAR, MCP WILL BE IN GOVERNMENT WHILE OUR COLLEAGUES DESCRIBED BY SOME QUARTERS AS THE MOST SELFISH AND UNGRATEFUL WILL BE SAILING IN TROUBLED WATERS.

Angoni apaphata
Angoni apaphata
4 years ago

Dziko ili lidawola Basi. Achawa mmalo mwa utelala kumafuna u president nkumati muli anthu a nzeru my dziko?

Mitengo
Mitengo
4 years ago

Verbal instructions from the tribal grouping leading to transfer won’t hold as evidence. Even the affidavit document does not include any name from the same group. He might win the case but his presence in the company will be untainable. Mr Puleni should have played his cards well.

Nalingula
Nalingula
4 years ago
Reply to  Mitengo

If people Remain Silent ….In the Face of Oppression ….What happens ……The Oppressor Gets Stronger ..
…..Unfortunately we have Gotten Used to this ….in this New Malawi …..

Lego
4 years ago

This culture of Lhomwelisation will kill our beloved Malawi.The earlier the better to get lead of these tribal leadership

Angoni apaphata
Angoni apaphata
4 years ago
Reply to  Lego

Lead as in Lego…… Koma zimakhala pa nyasatimes able inu

hahahaha
hahahaha
4 years ago

hahahahaha. Chingelezi odala

Lego
4 years ago
Reply to  hahahaha

A well educated person will just correct the mistake and know what was all about but fools will rough

Kapoli
Kapoli
4 years ago

Should have been “rid” and not “lead” @Angoni apaphata, should have been “abale inu ” and not “able inu” 😁

Lego
4 years ago

That is a typing error unless if you tell me you have never ever made a mistake in your life

Read previous post:
More hodgepodge at Mzuzu city council

Direct employees of the Mzuzu City Council (MCC) on Monday shutdown offices of their employer in a bid to force...

Close