By Joel Chirwa and Patrick Ng’ambi
Mzuzu, June 15, Mana: A group of concerned people of Msongwe Ward have petitioned Mzuzu City Council (MCC) to relieve the Ward’s councillor, Kondwani Brian Nyasulu of his duties for missing Ward and Council meetings extensively.
The People on Tuesday marched from Msongwe to Mzuzu City Civic Offices where they presented the petition which was received by MCCs Public Relations Officer (PRO), McDonald Gondwe.
The People were chanting choruses carried banners displaying messages such as ‘Ife Ndale kuno ayi. Tikufuna Chitutukuko’ (We don’t want politics. We want development) and ‘Councilor Nyasulu resign’. Malawi Electoral Commission declare Msongwe Ward vacant’ among others.
Spokesperson for the grouping, Francis Chirambo said Nyasulu was elected to serve Msongwe Ward and his perpetual absence in from ward and the council’s meetings is questionable.
He said Nyasulu, who is the former Mayor of MCC has not been reporting for his duties since December 17, 2021 when he lost his mayor ship position.
“We have presented a petition to demand the removal of our current Councilor, Kondwani Brian Nyasulu as his perpetual absence from council meetings denies us rights to development.
“Since he does not attend ward and full council meetings, our development priorities are not heard by the council hence no development in our ward,” Chirambo explained.
He alleged that Nyasulu has miserably failed to govern his ward as he cannot point out any development work he has done adding his absence from public duties means that he has constructively resigned and lost public trust.
One of the block leaders of Msongwe area, Prince Kajoloweka Mhango said the people took to the street because their councilor had not initiated any development meetings in his ward since his election to the office.
He said their action has not been motivated by Nyasulu’s political opponents insisting that the move was purely a community led initiative.
“We tried to explore various avenues to interface with our councilor but all our efforts proved futile hence resorting to take this action to register our concerns to relevant authorities,” Mhango added.
Receiving the petition, Gondwe said necessary procedures and laws would be followed to address the issue.
He could not be drawn to comment as to whether Nyasulu was attending meetings or not saying there are procedures followed for one to attend meetings.
“I may not be in a position to comment now. All in all, the council is going to follow what the law says regarding council meetings, operating standing orders and Local Government Act in Malawi,” Gondwe said.
Nyasulu was not available for his response to the allegations raised by the petitioners regardless of our several attempts to contact through phone calls.
According Standing Order No 7 of the Local Government Act, any member who shall be absent from three consecutive meetings, shall forfeit their monthly honoraria associated with the period that the member has been absent.