The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday met Ombudsman Martha Chizuma at the start of an inquiry into the alleged mismanagement of K6.2 billion meant for the fight against Covid-19. The committee engaged Chizuma to get more on what she found in her report dubbed “Misplaced Priorities.” Shadreck Namalomba, Chairperson of the committee , […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has released a report on her investigation of alleged unprocedural, improper and irregular recruitment of some members of staff at the Central Medical Stores Trust that involved former president Peter Mutharika, Office of the President and the Trust’s chief executive officer (CEO) Dr. Feston Kaupa. Dated March 25, 2021, the Ombudsman says […]
The public protector – Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has said there is need for an inquiry into arrangement in which Malmed Clinic in Blantyre allegedly set aside an hour on Sunday for the exclusive Covid-19 vaccination of the Indian community. The arrangement with Blantyre District Health Office triggered angry reaction from Malawians who took to social […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma says Central Medical Stores Trust and Lilongwe Handling Company are next on her menu as she continues to stem deep rooted maladministration in the government system. Chizuma said her office will release the two public offices investigation findings next week. This comes as the office on Friday released a report on the […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has made a determination on the recruitment of former Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) chief executive officer Collins Magalasi, saying it was “illegal, unprocedural” and “maladministration.” and therefore ordered the Mera board not to pay him any end of term benefits and if the same have already been paid they should be reclaimed. […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has released a report on an investigation on the matter of alleged unprocedural recruitment of former Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) chief executive officer Collins Magalasi. The investigation also looked into improper and irregular recruitment of other members of staff and acts of maladministration at Mera. The report has been titled ‘Institutional […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma who has continued to become “a symbol of hope, courage and professionalism” in as far as driving the crusade against impunity in the country is concerned has been awarded ‘Woman of the year’ award by Africa Gender Equality conference 2021. Announcing the award, the conference pointed out that Chizuma is “tenacious person” […]
The Office of the Ombudsman is set to release a report from an investigation into how the pollster, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), ended up hiring a team of South African lawyers to represent it in the presidential election appeal case at the Supreme Court of Appeal. The hiring of the South African lawyers followed […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has made directives and recommendations to be implemented by government following revelations that K6.2 billion Covid-19 funds were abused. The report was released at a news conference in Lilongwe. The directives and recommendations are contained in a report titled A Report on an Investigation into Allegations Concerning Lack of Transparency and Accountability […]
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Dr Steven Kayuni has told the Malawi Police Service to start criminal investigations against officials at the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) and Reserve Bank of Malawi over abuse of Covid-19 response funds. Kayuni has verified the authenticity of the letter he wrote to Inspector General of Police […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma says her office will be recruiting additional staff to help with the ever expanding job of the office. The office has of late taken some demanding tasks which previous office holders never undertook. Chizuma said the extra staff will help in-depth and speedy investigation of cases in view of expansion in its […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has told ministry of Education off the investigations into how the selection into public secondary school selection was done. There has been concerns that the accused, the ministry of Education wanted to use the office of the Ombudsman as cover up after the principal secretary in the ministry ordered a probe in […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma says a probe into how Covid-19 funds have been used by the government is over. However, Chizuma could not say exactly when the report on investigations would be released. She said her office has concluded compiling the final report though. In April this year, the office commenced investigations after reports emerged that […]
The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating former Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) director general Godfrey Itaye over allegations that he changed names from Godfrey Masina to Godfrey Itaye and that his recruitment process needs to be scrutinised. Itaye, who in June this year was deployed to Lilongwe Water Board as chief executive officer, is […]
The country’s Ombudsman Martha Chizuma has dressed down Blantyre District Commissioner (DC), Bennet Nkasala, for demonstrating lack of good management and leadership practices in the way dealt with frontline health workers undertaking coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-related work at Kameza Isolation Centre. Nkasala and the health workers have been at loggerheads over disagreements over the category of […]
Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to carry out a comprehensive review of the Code of Ethics for public officers to revive a moral ethical conduct being a precursor for efficient, effective and professional public service. Chilima has also encouraged the Ombudsman to remain strong and continue to carry […]
Ombudsman Martha Chizuma says she has written Treasury seeking a K800 million funding to expedite injustices and governance issues in the country. Chizuma said the annual budget for the organization is K800 million a year but the previous Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government only released K200 million for its operations. “This money falls short […]
The previous regime of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was suffocating the Office of the Ombudsman by underfunding and President Lazarus Chakwera has given the institution of governance hope as he has assured it that his administration will enable the public protector to operate freely and independently to fulfill their constitutional mandate. Ombudsman Martha Chizuma – […]