By Chisomo Phiri
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara has with immediate effect fired all members of the Roads Authority (RA) for failure to perform their duties and responsibilities well.
In a letter addressed to the dissolved Board which Maravi Post has seen, Hara says, after receiving the reports of incompetence by the Board.
He by the virtue of powers vested on him under Section 16 (1) of the Roads Authority Act 2005 ( cap. 69:07 of the laws of Malawi), appointed one person Board of inquiry, Counsel Raphael Joseph Mhone who after his investigations into the matter confirmed failure by the board to indeed observe and perform the duties and obligations conferred upon it under the Roads Authority Act.
According to Mhone, his Investigations found that the dissolved RA Board was messed up in serious corporate governance failures such as, financial governance failures, failure by the board to supervise the management of the Roads Authority in accordance with its mandate and project procurement oversight failures.
“The non-compliance on the part of the Board has led to a dysfunctional management system, of the Roads Authority, delays in commencement and completion of road projects, poor workmanship in road construction projects, mis-procurements, exorbitant claims, unnecessary interest claims leading to avoidable loss of money .
“The non-compliance is not capable of being remedied by the Board of the Roads Authority,” reads a letter in part.
It adds, “Accordingly, I have exercised my powers vested on me under Section 16( 4)(b) of the Roads Authority Act to dissolve the Board of the Roads Authority with immediate effect”.
The dissolved Board was chaired by Joe Ching’ani, who was deputised by Byson Mpando. Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa, Boniface Dulani, Senior Chief Malemia and Evans Kafandiya were some of the members.
