Prof Seyani denies being favoured by Malawi govt, speaks out
Director General of the National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens (NHBGP) Professor James Seyani has refuted allegations that government is favoring him by bringing him back as Director general for the NHBG after reaching his retirement age.
Seyani was reacting to a press reports that says he is been favored due to his district of origin and tribe.
In a brief response to Nyasa Times questionnaire on his reactions to the reports, Seyani said he is on post retirement employment and he has been like that from 2012.
“I have been working on post retirement employee from way back and in 2012, while I was on a short holiday outside the country, I was dismissed and no reasons were given then during the era of her excellency Dr Joyce Banda.”
“The same government in 2014, decided that I should resume my duties on post retirement. The board of the National Herbarium and botanical gardens wrote me a letter to resume my duties but I didn’t take it instantly” explained Seyani.
According to Seyani, he agreed to resume duties on 1/09/2017 after a long discussion. “It was therefore not a new appointment but mere resumption of duties” he said.
One of the re-known commentator from Chancellor college who asked not to be mentioned said while it can be seen that Seyani is being favored in general public eyes, it must be noted that post retirement employment in academic and research institutions is very common and not a new thing.
The commentator said currently, there are also a lot of professionals on post retirement employment in academic and research institutions even public universities. He gave an example of re-known commentators and academicians like Prof Ben Kalua, Prof Kanyama Phiri, Dr. Francis Moto and Dr. Kwapata just to mention a few.
“The assertion that Prof Seyani is favored by government is not only misleading but also misguided and fails to recognize that for academic and research institutions which often require special expertise, post retirement employment is not strange and cannot be news” he said
Seyani also refused the allegations that he is working without a contract but draws benefits.
“It is also not true. What is true is that the board called me back to “resume duties” based on my previous contract which was terminated in 2012 without any reason. So I resumed work based on my initial contract because government rescinded it’s own decision of 2012 and asked me to resume duties” he said.
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CAN THE YOUTH OF THIS COUNTRY FIND JOBS WITH THIS KIND OF MENTALLITY? SEYANI IS TOO OLD!!! HE DOES NOT LOOK THE WAY YOU SEE HIM IN THAT PIC. THE PROBLEM WITH SEYANI IS THAT HE TAKES NATIONAL HERBARIUM AS HIS OWN BABY. THAT IS WHY HE HAD TO USE HIS TRIBAL CARD TO SQUEEZE HIMSELF AND RETIRE FROM THE RETIREMENT. THE GUY RETIRED IN 2012. WHY BRING HIM BACK SIX YEARS DONW THE LINE? HAS THAT HAPPENDED TO ANYBODY IN THE PAST? THE ARGUMENT THAT HE IS MOST QUALIFIED DOES NOT HOLD WATER. THERE ARE CAPABLE YOUNG MEN AT… Read more »
National Herbarium and Botanical Gardens is not an academic nor research institution….. It is simply a government institution with the task of protecting and preserving the country’s flora and fauna. Its pure Hlomweism that brings back Prf Seyani to head that institution. SAD
No wonder you are Chemussa. Go back to school. Some fools hate other tribes for nothing. Give them work to do, njeeee. Nkuona chipani chimodzi ma president awiri in 24 hours.
We are raising eyebrows because just recently Dr Kanyama was forced to go on leave pending retirement at age sixty. So what’s special about Prof Seyani to be called from retirement to head a worthless institution like National Herbarium? And if the contract being dates back from 2012, hasn’t it expired already five years down the line?
Nonsense. @Alhomwe Geinuine has a point; and my inclination is that what he/she refers as “… a particular region or district…” is obvious. Out of all people on “post-retirement” employment in this country, why single out James Seyani, if not for nefarious reasons? If reporters “swear” to do an honest job and report in an unbiased way (Kasakula not included – he’s the worst tribalist on the current scene), then the writer of this piece has failed: Only if he analysed, say, the Research Institutes, or Chirunga campus, he/she would not find that aLhomwe are over represented in that category.… Read more »
Atumbuka munya mufa ndi mtima. Ife Alomwe tili pheee we dont stress.
Nanga Ben Kalua, Kanyama Phiri ndi alhomwe? Atumbuka opusa inu mwapenga?
Prof Seyani is indeed favoured, actually he is the brains behind the Quota system in the UNIMA….he was the chair of the council when the system was introduced. JB kicked him out because he was using his position to advance the Mulhako agenda of government of Lhomwes by the Lhomwes and for the Lhomwes. Am sure if the government changes next year…he will see the exit door again. Vuto lophatikiza tribalism ndi ma appintments ndi limeneli Prof.
So what? Whare I am mtumbuka kukhala head the rest including toilet cleaners are atumbuka. Musatinyanse asakukudziwani ndani? Nchifukwa chake Kamuzu adakuthamangitsani 1989. Munya muona mumadziona ngati anzeru ophunzira ndi inu nokha eti? some of us know well the stinking Mzuzu Corner at Chanco. We were there.
Some people are making storms out of nothing and I would not be surprised if it is not a specific region coming up with the insensitive remarks and attitudes. What’s the fuss about Prof. Seyani getting re-employed when he is a deserving Malawian? To those making the unnecessary noise, whom did they consider to be more qualified for this post than Prof. Seyani? My conviction tells me that it wouldn’t have made news if the re-appointment was for someone from a particular region or district different from Prof. Seyani’s. Thanks to the anonymous contributor from Chancellor College for your elaboration… Read more »
Mpakana years. Ndi president? Poti ndi mlomwe!
Mpkana 70 years?
Imwe Rodolfo 70 years ndimunthutu wangokhala ono akakhala wophunzira bwino kapena wamakobiri ndiye iwe usatengere amwiyako aja zaka 60 anali atatha kale zija zinachitika chifukwa chaumphawi
I know somebody who taught me in mid 80s at Chanco and is still there, in a similar situation like Prof. seyani. I have now been working for close to 30 years. He comes from up there. Guess how old is he? And coz he is from there, this is not an issue.