Mzuzu-(MaraviPost)—President Lazarus Chakwera has suspended Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 CoChairperson, Dr John Phuka, Commissioner for Department of Disaster Management (DODMA), James Chiusiwa, and all heads of Covid-19 clusters for allegedly spearheading the plunder of K6.2 billion funds meant for the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking on Sunday evening in his weekly national address, Chakwera said Dr Phuka will be replaced by Dr Chalamira Nkhoma while Chiusiwa’s successor will be announced by the President soon.
“I have also directed the Secretary to the President and Cabinet to effect the replacement of both the Commissioner of DODMA and the technical CoChair of the Taskforce on Covid-19.
“Both DODMA and the Covid-19 Taskforce require strong leadership and my office will be naming a new commissioner soon while for the Covid-19 Taskforce, I have named Dr Chalamira Nkhoma,” said Chakwera.
Chakwera further disclosed that he has also suspended all heads of Covid-19 clusters and that a forensic audit will be instituted to investigate any abuse of the funds by the same; following unsatisfactory reports from them.
On this note, the President preempted that whosoever will be found to have played a role in the abuse of the Covid-19 funds, will be prosecuted accordingly.
The Malawi leader also bemoaned the government systems of allowances, procurement and employment contracts, saying the systems are cleverly designed in a way to orchestrate plunder of public resources whilst at the same time encouraging impunity of those involved in the malpractice.
Chakwera’s suspension of the top Covid-19 management officials comes following the revelations that almost all the thirteen Covid-19 clusters did not submit comprehensive reports to his Taskforce on how they used the funds; a clear indication that they abused the resources.
