Nyasa-leaks: How Mutharika is sometimes advised
Confidential Memorundum to His Excellency the State President
From: Ministry of Information and Civic Education
File Ref: INF/ADM/01/23 Date: 4th March, 2011
Connected Files ………………………………………
SUBJECT: LIST OF EIGHT (8) NAMES OF PEOPLE PROPOSED AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NICE FOR YOUR APPROVAL
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to present to you, Sir, a list of twelve (12) names out of which eight have to be considered for appointment as members of the Board of Trustees of the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE).
Your Excellency might wish to be informed that the twelve proposed names were nominated in accordance with Article 5 of the Constitution of the Registered Trustees of NICE on the procedure for nominated Trustees which says:
1. The procedure for nominating members of the Board of Trustees shall be as follows:
(a) The NICE Secretariat shall issue a public advertisement directed to appropriate organizations which NICE in its absolute discretion considers to be reputable non-state organizations, representative of the Malawian Society and that have their headquarters in Malawi;
(b) The public advertisement issued under subsection
(a) shall invite the organizations to
(i) Nominate up to two (2) persons who are independent, non-partisan, impartial and of high integrity, from within or outside their organizations, for consideration for appointment as a member of the Board of Trustees for NICE; and
(ii) Submit such nominations within a period of twenty one (21) days from the date of publication of the public advertisement and in writing, addressed to the NICE Secretariat, stating the full name, contact details and comprehensive curriculum vitae of any person so nominated.
2. Upon receipt of the names of nominated candidates, the NICE Secretariat and a selection committee comprising of three (3) representatives from Civil Society Organizations involved in civic education activities shall:-
(a) Jointly assess the nominated candidates in accordance with guidelines on the selection of Board of Trustees annexed to this Constitution and after such assessment submit to the Minister a list of short listed candidates for formal appointment; and
(b) Keep a list of reserved names among the nominated persons for future appointment in case of a vacancy arising in the Board under this Constitution.
And in terms of this provision, NICE Secretariat, in May 2010, issued a public advertisement in the local media calling for nominations for consideration as members of the Board of Trustees of NICE. Upon receipt of names of nominated candidates, NICE Secretariat and a selection committee comprising three (3) representatives from the Society Organizations involved in civic education activities, jointly assessed the nominations and shortlisted and submitted to me for appointment.
You might wish to further note, Sir, that since the nominations came from the Civil Society Organizations involved in civic education activities in the country, the list contains some names of people who are against Government such as Mrs. Martha Kwataine.
If we had a chance to nominate our own names to be considered on that Board, then I would suggest that Mr. Felix Chome, a former Member of Parliament and Professional Accountant should replace Mrs. Kwataine. Blantyre Synod and Livingstonia Synod will each be requested to nominate a representative. Subject to Your Excellency’s instructions, I suggest that the following be put on reserve and should not be appointed as of now:-
a. Mrs. Martha Kwataine – Executive Director of Malawi Health Equity Network.
b. Mr. Shadreck Munthali, Diocesan CADECOM Secretary, Mzuzu Diocese.
c. Mr. Ralge Chikwakwa, Programme Manager, Computers for Malawi.
d. Mr. Fred Kapito, Finance Manager, MACRO.
It is therefore proposed, subject to Your Excellency’s direction that the new members of the Board of Trustees of the National Initiative for Civic Education should comprise the following members:-
1. Dr. Gerald Chigona, Manager at Norwegian
Church Aid;
2. Justice Tujilane Chizumila (Mrs.), Ombudsman
3. Mr. Patrick Namakhoma Director of Dedza CADECOM;
4. Dr. Yobbe Lungu, Country Director of Children of the Nations;
5. A representative of Blantyre Synod.;
6. Dr. S. Ummar, Deputy Executive Secretary of Muslim Association;
7. A representative of Livingstonia Synod; and
8. Mr. Marcel Chisi, Executive Director, AYISE.
Under the new proposed arrangement, NICE will be a public trust and the Ministry of Information and Civic Education will have general supervisory oversight over the institution. Further more, all Trustees of NICE will formally be appointed by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, and Government will be represented on the Board of Trustees by the Secretary for Information and Civic Education and Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development.
Your Excellency, it is envisaged that as public trust and under the general supervision of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, NICE will be used to advance the development agenda of the Government and enhance the good governance programme of the Government through civic education.
Your Excellency, since its inception over ten (10) years ago, NICE has been funded by the European Union and most of its activities have been perceived to be dictated by the European Union. In this regard, it is recommended for Your Excellency’s consideration and appointment of eight (8) of the twelve (12) names submitted to you by NICE Secretariat as members of the Board of Trustees of NICE. The Government, through the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, will still have ownership and control of NICE and will use NICE to enhance and strengthen democratic governance. Under the new institutional arrangement, the position of Government will be strengthened because NICE will be a public trust set up by the Government and NICE will have to work with Government.
Your Excellency, it is also envisaged that with its new status as a public trust, NICE will be in a position to attract financial support assistance from the European Union.
I would be grateful to know if you find this institutional arrangement which has been put in place satisfactory, and if so, whether it would please you to appoint eight (8) out of the twelve (12) names to serve as Trustees of NICE.
Your Excellency, I have attached a list of names of the twelve proposed nominees submitted by NICE Secretariat and a copy of the advertisement calling for nominations of the Board of Trustees for NICE.
Your Excellency, the following shall be ex officio members of the Board:
1. The Secretary for Information and Civic Education or his duly designated representative;
2. The Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development of his duly designated representative; and
3. The Executive Secretary of the Malawi human Rights Commission or his duly designated representative.
Your Excellency, Sir, this Memorandum is submitted for your information and approval, Sir.
LIST OF THE PROPOSED TWELVE NAMES SUBMITTED BY THE SECRETARIAT OF NICE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR APPOINMENT AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR CIVIC EDUCATION (NICE)
1. Dr. Gerald Chigona, Manager at Norwegian Church Aid.
2. Justice Tujilane Chizumila (Mrs.), Ombudsman.
3. Mr. Patrick Namakhoma Director of Dedza CADECOM.
4. Mrs. Martha Kwataine, Executive Director of Malawi Health
Equity Network.
5. Dr. Yobbe Lungu, Country Director of Children of the Nations.
6. Mr. Shadreck Munthali, Diocesan CADECOM Secretary,
Mzuzu Diocese.
7. Dr. S. Ummar, Deputy Executive Secretary of Muslim
Association;
8. Mrs. Rose Mkandawire, Programme Director of Church Society, Livingstonia Synod.
9. Mr. Ralge Chikwakwa, Programme Manager Computers for
Malawi;
10. Marcel Chisi, Executive Director, AYISE.
11. Mr. Fred Kapito, Finance Manager, MACRO; AND
12. Rev. Peter Kandulu, Reverend, Blantyre Synod.
I shall Always Remain,
Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Servant
Symon Vuwa Kaunda, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION
AND CIVIC EDUCATION
