Thoko Banda failed to convince Malawi Parley on Begium-EU diplomatic post

Thoko Banda, son to former cabinet minister Aleke Banda, is not going to Belgium as earlier announced due to his unsatisficatory qualifications and performance during the interviews by the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Malawi Parliament.

Banda, the newly-appointed Malawi’s envoy to Zimbabwe who initially appeared on the lists  of diplomatic appointments made in August this year failed to convince PAC panel for the initial Belgium-European Union post.

According to a report in The Daily Times, citing unnamed source privy to appointment proceeding, said that PAC recommended that due to the quality of his qualifications and performance during interview, Banda could only be considered for the diplomatic posts in either Zimbabwe or Zamba.

The source claimed that what President Peter Mutharika had done is line with the recommendations as his “qualification and his performance during the interview were not satisfactory for such a big office as Belgium-EU office”.

“It was recommended that he be sent to some country within the Southern Africa Development Community,” said the source.

PAC chairperson Lingson Belekanyama declined to comment on the matter.

But the Chief Secretary to the Government George Mkondiwa said the appointing authority has the prerogative to determine where to post an individual depending on “exigencies of service”.

Mkondiwa further said when PAC sends recommendations to the appointing authority, the authority has powers to scrutinise those recommendations and then decide where to place an individual.

“After looking at his qualities,, the President thought Mr Banda could fit well in Zimbabwe,” said Mkondiwa.