Nepotism hits NSO: Commissioner employs own daughter

Malawi’s National Statistics Office (NSO) has been hit by accusations of nepotism and maladministration following revelation that the Commissioner of Statistics Charles Machinjiri employed her own daughter to head the NSO’s regional office in Blantyre.

Some of the members of NSO staff in Zomba have since written the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General asking him to immediately intervene and take action against Machinjiri who the employees are accusing of running the institution as a personal estate.

On nepotism the letter dated September 10, 2012 reads: “One example is the promotion of his daughter to the post of Regional Officer for Statistics (Blantyre) through dubious means. Another one is the heading of his nephew of some of the projects at our office.”

Majorie Chipofya: Heads Blantyre NSO office

The letter also says that almost all foreign trips and scholarships are given to Machinjiri’s relatives.

On mismanagement, the staff members reveal that all stationary for NSO is supplied by Machinjiri’s shop in Zomba City which is also managed by his nephew.

The letter also accuses Machinjiri of using unauthorised local garage City Boundary Garage within Zomba to service company vehicles at the expense of government approved dealers.

“(After servicing the vehicles) They get commission which is shared between himself, the Transport Officer Mr C. Herbert and the Principle Human Resource Officer Mr M.P. Namwera,” reads the letter.

The staff members also accuse Machinjiri of using NSO vehicles for former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) activities revealing that recently seven drivers were redeployed after they refused to be used for DPP activities.

“We feel that these transfers must be stopped and be investigated,” pleaded the staff members, and urged the Attorney General to take action against the Commissioner of Statistics before things get worse at the institution.

Machinjiri declined to comment on the matter when approached while one of the officers at the Ministry of Justice confirmed the ministry having received the letter.

“I think all the issues are being looked into together with another case which saw one of the senior members at NSO arrested recently for also abuse of office, corruption and theft. It seems there is a lot of rot at the NSO which has to be seriously looked into,” said the officer.

Nyasa Times investigations confirmed that the NSO Blantyre office is headed by one Marjorie Chipofya who is nee Machinjiri.

Marjorie Chipofya however has a Masters Degree in Demography obtained in 2010 from  University of Southampton and bachelor’s  Degree in  Humanities & Demography from  University of Malawi in  2003.

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