BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) witch hunting special has been dealt with a heavy blow as Malawi government has effected the promotion of 15 District Commissioners (DCs) who were promoted during the reign of Joyce Banda in April 2014.The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development —under the Joyce Banda administration—effected the officers’ promotions on April 8 2014 to grades S3/P3 and S2/P2 in the civil service structure as one way of implementing a 2005 Functional Review.
However, typical of Malawi politics of planting ruling party’s bootlickers public service, after winning the elections the DPP-led government challenged the promotions arguing the posts to which the DCs were promoted do not exist as there was no establishment warrant (EW) – without an EW, no promotion can be effected in the public service.
Government also argued the posts did not exist and that the promotions were not budgeted for.
After failing to settle the matter in an amicable way with the fired minister of Local Government, TarsizioGowelo, some of the DCs James Manyetera, Memory Kaleso and ReinhardChavula-Kavita challenged the nullification in court which culminated into a cat and mouse legal challenge which has lasted for two years.
Apart from Manyetera, Kaleso and Chavula-Kavita, the other demoted DCs include Fanny Msimuko of Ntchisi, James Kanyangalazi of Nkhotakota; the Reverend Grace Chirwa of Chitipa, Rosemary Moyo of Karonga, AtanasioChibwana of Blantyre, Peter Jimusole of Likoma Island and MalangoBotomani of Dowa, Moses Chimphepo of Kasungu, Jimmy Kanyangalazi of Dedza, J and Jack Ngulube of Mulanje.
Nullification of the DC promotion brought in a rift between the DCs and the Ministry who viewed the act as a political vendetta. During the Joyce Banda administration, DCs were promoted to various civil service grades.
During the week, the Ministry of Local Government and rural Development has been calling the affected DCs one by one to Capital Hill where they were communicated that their promotions stand and they have not been demoted as earlier communicated.
“It has pleased the Minister to uphold the decision to promote you,” was the message in a letter signed by Stuart Ligomeka, Principal Secretary in the Ministry.
The ministry has further advised the DCs that they will serve under the Ministry of Local Government or as Government may direct them depending on Exigencies of the services.
One lady DCs who spoke on condition of anonymity narrated that she welcomes the move although calling it way overdue and not worth celebrating.
She went further joking that TarsizioGowelo (MP) will go down in the history of the Ministry as the most unpopular Minister as he waged a personal war with Traditional Chiefs and DCs who benefited from the Joyce Banda administration.
The 15 DCs were alleged to be promoted by Joyce Banda with an aim of aiding the rigging of votes in favour of People’s Party in 2014 general elections