Tag Archives: Colleen Zamba

Education

SPC Zamba for digital innovations

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba has reiterated the need for the country to embrace digital skills to easily achieve the Malawi 2063 vision.

Zamba was speaking on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in the Capital Lilongwe, when she presented certificates to over 110 Civil Servants who have undergone six months of Digital Skills Training at the Malawi School of Government (MSG) Kanengo Campus.

“When we launched the training, about 180 participants enrolled, but some dropped out along the way and others even dropped out after attending only one session.

“Allow me to congratulate 112 participants who endured and have completed the training. Surely your dedication has paid off. I hope and believe that you have all found the topics covered in the training useful in your day-to-day work. I believe you can use the collaborative tools learnt to like the Kobol Collection Tools and Google Docs among others,” said Zamba.

In her remarks, MSG Kanengo Campus’ Acting Executive Director Dr. Jessie Kabwira commended SPC Zamba for her effort in making sure that the Civil Service is ticking in different spheres.

She said certificates the SPC has presented to government workers will motivate them and help spread their wings and fly higher.

“Everything you have covered in this training should bear fruits. This country’s digital transformation needs coordinated efforts to achieve the Malawi 2063 Vision.” She added.

In April this year, SPS Zamba launched Digital Skills Training where she emphasized that the digital transformation vision for Malawi can only be achieved if the Civil Service dedicates efforts to make it happen.

This six-month Digital Skills Training was organized by the Malawi Government and other partners like the Tony Blair Institute (TBI).

Malawi, Politics

How untouchable SPC Collen Zamba has grown wings in Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance Government

Maravi Post Author

…..The all-powerful Zamba sacks Egenco’s bosses

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Colleen Zamba is undoubtedly the most powerful woman in President Lazarus Chakwera’s Government, perhaps at times more than the president, and she can fire anybody who disagrees with her.

The Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) both the Board of Directors and its Management have learned the hard way- they have both been sacked.

According to the Investigator Magazine blog, Zamba cracked the whip on the Board first after it defied her order to give back the Kammwamba Coal Power Project to the Ministry of Energy, which had earmarked Jindall to take over and implement it.

EGENCO Chief Executive Officer William Liabunya seemed to have agreed in his conversation with Secretary for Energy Alfonso Chikuni, only to send a long letter from the Board, essentially telling the Ministry off.

The Ministry and EGENCO have been fighting over the secondment of some senior officials who are said to be connected to Zamba, who came to understudy Liabunya to take over from him.

SPC Zamba has been at the center of appointments, placing her loyalists in all key government ministries, and is in total control of the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) where she fired acting Chief Executive Officer Hellen Buluma for failing to comply with her directive to award a contract to her friend Chief Obinna Amucheinwa a Nigerian dobadoba who has been working with Zamba to get plum contracts.

“Even Mama Cecelia Kadzamira was not this powerful to make all appointments and hire and fire anyone at her beckon. You disagree with her, even on the procedure that is the end. She fired Martha Chizuma, she fired Hellen Buluma, she dissolved the EGENCO Board, and now she is firing its management.

Zamba and Chikuni have also been at loggerheads with the Electricity Commission of Malawi (ESCOM) who threw out their insistence to give a Power Purchase Agreement, irregularly done by Chikuni which is now under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Despite citing the responses to Cyclones by EGENCO, the real reasons for the flexing of power by Zamba and Chikuni hinge on a power project and the strange secondment of senior staff to EGENCO.

Fight for Kammwamba Thermal Power Project, K5 billion spent by EGENCO

On 17 May 2023, Secretary for Energy Alfonso Chikuni wrote to EGENCO CEO William Liabunya in a letter referenced as MOE/ADMIN/20/1 which had its subject as “Repossession of the Kammwamba Coal Fired Power Project” giving the company 13 days to handover a project it has been developing for years.

“As you are aware, the country is over-dependent on hydropower, and all major hydropower plants are located on the Shire River. This poses a security risk in terms of power generation and supply as the plants are prone to hydrological risk and, of late, devastating cyclones such as Cyclones Idai and Ana among others,” said Chikuni in his letter.

Chikuni said in line with Malawi’s energy policy of 2018, the government was keen to diversify the energy sources both in terms of technology and location of power plants to reduce the risks associated with hydropower stations.

“The country needs to move with speed in utilizing this technology- a case in point being the successful implementation of the 300MW Kammwamba Coal-Fired Power Station Project. However, the Ministry feels that this coal project might may take time to be implemented due to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) financing model it has taken,” said Chikuni.

My interest was purely to see Malawi gain energy -Chikuni
The PS then said the Ministry, which did not own the project in the first place, wanted to repossess the project and give it to an independent power producer to fast-track the development.

According to Energy officials close to Chikuni, the project would have been given to Jindall an Indian firm that was developing power plants to support its projects in neighboring Mozambique.

“EGENCO is hereby requested to officially hand over the Feasibility Study Report and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Study report for the project to the Government through this Ministry. EGENCO is advised to follow due process to withdraw from the Public-Private Partnership Commission. It will be much appreciated if this whole process is completed by 31 May 2023,” ordered Chikuni.

Chikuni justified his action explaining that the study reports were done using public funds they had a lifeline that would expire soon and that it was appropriate to deliver to those that could implement it.

“My interest was purely to see Malawi gain energy,” insisted Chikuni in an earlier interview.

He disputed unconfirmed allegations that Jindall was offering some “Tithe” for the project.

Chikuni said Jindall withdrew from Malawi and went to Mozambique due to delays on the project.

“That matter is closed,” he said at the time.

However, the stage was set as new people had been seconded to EGENCO and someone reported them to the Ombudsman.

Appointments disputed

The second issue that has resurfaced months after the Jindall matter is the secondment of Director of Operations Dr Maxon Chitawo and Director of Planning and Development Dr Gregory Gamula. The Office of Ombudsman received a complaint that the two were recruited without following procedures.

According to a letter to the Ombudsman to Liabunya dated the 2nd of October 2023, the two came in February 2023 without following recruitment procedures.

Dr. Chitawo was based at Mzuzu University while Dr Gamula was at Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences.

“The key anomaly is the fact that secondment letters were signed by PS Department of Human Resources and Development Mr. Chilabade. Mr Chilabade is for Civil Service and the Department of Statutory Corporations deals with parastatals. They were in a hurry to instill their people. It’s illegal,” said one of the complainants to the Ombudsman.

However, this did not deter Zamba and Chikuni from appointing Dr Chitawo as Acting Chief Executive Officer after suspending Liabunya.

Who suspended Liabunya and Mrs Mluwira

On 3rd October 2023, Secretary to the Treasury McDonald Mafuta Mwale wrote to Liabunya and Director of Corporate Services and Company Secretary Videlia Mluwira asking them to leave office pending forensic audit of EGENCO response to Cyclone.

Secretary to the Treasury McDonald Mafuta Mwale wrote to Liabunya and Mluwira asking them to leave office
Interestingly, after dissolving the board, someone gave themselves wide-reaching powers to suspend two senior Managers and effectively provide their replacements.

“Zamba and Chikuni decided to fire the two. Then they realised they had no power to fire anyone as ex-officio members. They asked the Secretary to Treasury as the main shareholder to sign it. But EGENCO is a limited liability company. Even shareholders can’t fire anyone, it doesn’t work that way. These two are acting strange,” a legal mind suggested.

Zamba and Chikuni shot themselves in the foot as they fired the Board.

Liabunya and Mluwira have since obtained an injunction to stay in office, making life tough for the Secretary to the President and Cabinet.

Is Zamba the new Prime Minister

Malawians have questioned why SPC Zamba is such a powerful individual within Chakwera’s administration with some speculating “a closer” relationship between the President and his Secretary.

The Investigator Magazine can reveal that Zamba bankrolled the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) during its years in opposition and she has not made a secret out of it, telling those who question her grip of power that she helped Chakwera to be where he is.

Is she the most powerful woman in Malawi?
“Since Mama Kadzamira, she is the first powerful lady in Malawi. Even President Chakwera can’t do anything about her. You should not be surprised when she becomes a cabinet minister. The President is powerless against her,” said a senior MCP official.

Zamba’s arbitrary control of the Malawi Public Service is only rivaled by John Ngwiri under Kamuzu Banda and former SPCs like Bright Msaka who was longest longest-serving SPC and would only wonder what magic she possesses to run the country like a Prime Minister.

“She is the Prime Minister, she is the head of Government, even the cabinet answers to her not the President. Nobody can question her decisions. She has appointed half of the Government while President Chakwera is sleeping on the job.

“The parastatals should accept laws that don’t apply to Zamba. Buluma and Liabunya are classic examples,” said a senior State House official.

Despite all allegations of corruption, and office abuses, Zamba has not come out to the public to clear them.

Source: The Investigator Magazine

Politics

SPC Collen Zamba accused of filling civil service with loyalists amid looming cabinet reshuffle

Maravi Post Author

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-As contracts for most political appointees come to an end, Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba is said to be consolidating her grip on the public service by filling them with personal loyalists.

And some officials close to the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) power base are now moving around claiming President Lazarus Chakwera will soon make changes to his cabinet.

The initial appointments were done between August 2020 to 2021 by the OPC in consultation with the state House, MCP officials, and others, but our source at the OPC says Curriculum Vitaes are coming from “somewhere” and memos deployed to President Lazarus Chakwera for approval.

It is not clear whether President Chakwera is aware of the links of several appointees he has officially made, but as in most cases the President seems to be surfing through memorandums without checking their implications.

Who is out, who is staying at OPC

SPC Zamba is the main player, just like her predecessors, in the recruitment and promotion of Directors and Principal Secretaries in Government Departments and Ministries.

Zamba is the key maker in the cabinet selection
Secretaries for Foreign Affairs Benard Sande and Human Resources Blessings Chilabades contracts ended, but insiders say there were applications to extend their contracts by six months.

We could not verify if they have been approved as Mr. Sande was out of the country while Mr. Chilabade has been attending meetings as Secretary for Human Resources as late as last week.

A newcomer to Civil Service, Ian Chingwalu who is said to have taken a sabbatical at Pan African Parliament is said to be earmarked for the Secretary for Human Resources position.

The OPC itself has a number of vacant positions of Principal Secretaries but they are yet to be filled with a newcomer Goodwin Kaonongela being appointed as PS. He is said to have worked with Zamba in Zambia when he was at Comesa.

Vincent Sikelo, who was Government Contracting Unit Head, is out of office. Others claim he was a stumbling block to some deals that he might have stepped on powerful people’s toes.

Vincent Sikelo saved Malawians on many many fronts, he saved billions.

“He saved Malawians on many many fronts. He saved billions,” one of his allies told the blog.

Anthony Bendulo, Director of Technology and Innovation, who came into the limelight during the 2019 Presidential Elections as a tech witness is serving his notice after he resigned in July. His last day is 30th September 2023, according to a letter we have been made privy to.

Chikondano Musa, Secretary for Education is being posted to Gender after Civil Service outsiders filled Directors of Administration and Procurement roles alleged to be allies of the SPC.

The Investigator Magazine is already looking into allegations that Steven Chikopa who Chairs the Internal Procurement Committee issued a Request for Quotations for vehicle servicing contrary to Public Procurement law.

Zamba is already said to have stuffed her loyalists in dozens of Ministries and Agencies with reports indicating that most of those recruited are performing below Civil Service standards.

Our source said the SPC could be preparing for an “unknown” future as she has embarked on inspecting public works projects which none of her predecessors has ever done.

“It is a bit awkward, because after the inspection who does she report to, if there are issues, does she write to the Minister responsible or the President?

“The President gets reports from the Minister, that she is creating an ambiguous system nobody has ever seen in Civil service,” observed a senior servant at Capital Hill.

Others suggest she is setting the ground for a political network where she will have allies in all Ministries and Departments to do her bidding.

Others suggest the next Cabinet reshuffle she could get rid of some of the Ministers who have been allegedly fighting for her removal.

Zamba remains Chakwera’s main reference point in his Tonse Alliance government decisions.

Source: Investigator Magazine

Malawi, Politics

SPC Zamba itches for restoring Malawi’s public service lost glory

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba has emphasized the need for the Malawi government to put efforts into restoring public service lost glory.

Zamba cited the growing tendency of some Civil Servants fond of leaking classified information.

She therefore cautioned the public officers against leaking important documents, especially on social media calling it an act of indiscipline.

The trend according to Zamba portrays a lack of proper attitudes and behaviour.

She also pointed out sabotage among public officers saying is against patriotism and denying people access to quality services.

Zamba was speaking upon opening a three-day training for senior administrative officers in the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at Malawi School of Government (MSG)-Kanengo campus in the capital Lilongwe.

SPC Zamba therefore agrees with the feedback that the civil service has lost its position hence an appeal to all civil servants for mindset change also.

She observes that restoring the glory of the civil service requires several interventions including imparting knowledge and skills to civil servants.

Zamba therefore hopes that through continuous training and investing in its personnel, the civil service could regain its position and that all set procedures would be followed.

“I want to agree with the feedback out there that the civil service has lost its position. We need to bring it back, it’s not an option. I am surprised that the president can give a directive and we can have a team of officers who would say we will attend to this issue next week. Seriously? It’s not that you are busy, but you want to go home at 2 pm, and tomorrow you will come back at 11 am.

“We can afford to have the whole month without cabinet business, seriously? I have an opportunity to be in other countries, for example, Zambia and Nigeria, where cabinet meetings are held every week. It is not ministers who generate cabinet meetings or government meetings, it is us,” she said.

MSG Director General Dr. Asiyati Chiweza assured the general public of the quality and tailor-made managerial training provision for outstanding civil servants’ work output.

Dr. Chiweza expects a total transformation of civil service following the continuous training MSG is offering to government agencies and department officers.

Law and order, Malawi

FND wants sanctions against public officers aiding, abetting corruption fight in Malawi

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-One of the country’s civil rights group, Forum for National Development (FND) wants President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance government to put sanctions against public officers aiding, abetting and undermining the fight against corruption in Malawi.

In a letter sent to heads of Diplomatic Missions to Malawi signed by FND National Coordinator Fyson Chodzi, The Maravi Post has seen, says Chakwera’s sincerely on corruption fight must start with his aids embroidered into corruption.

Chodzi cited Secretary to President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba who has been entangled into National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) corrupt allegation which until now Chakwera has not yet acted on anything.

“There have been serious allegations made on record to Parliament by Ms. Helen Buluma, the former Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) against the SPC, Ms. Colleen Zamba. The allegations are very damning for an individual holding the office of the SPC and lack of action thereof questions the involvement of the President into the said allegations.

“We have noted that the SPC uses her position and proximity to the president to run away from responsibility of being held accountable which included shunning Parliamentary summons to appear before it and respond to the said allegations. The SPC role in the arrest and interdiction of Ms. Chizuma cannot be ignored,” reads part of FND letter.

Adds the letter, “We strongly believed that all her actions are aimed at undermining the ACB Director General and subsequent corruption fight in Malawi. Strangely, when the issue of arrest, court case and interdiction of Chizuma started, there has been state sponsorship of individuals and institutions to buttress the action taken against Chizuma.

“All these actions in our opinion lead to obstruction and defeating the means of justice where the SPC being the head of the civil services being found in the thick of things“.

Below is full FND letter to donors:

ALL FOR TARGETED SANCTIONS AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICERS AIDING, ABETTING AND UNDERMINING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN MALAWI.

22nd February 2023

The Heads of Diplomatic Missions to Malawi

Various Embassies, High Commission and Delegations

CC:   The Secretary for Foreign Affairs

          Ministry of Foreign Affairs

          P.O. Box

          Lilongwe

          The Director General

          Anti-Corruption Bureau

          Mulanje House

          P.O. Box 2437

          Lilongwe

Attn: British High Commission; American Embassy; European Delegation; African Union; SADC Country Missions; South African High Commission; Norwegian Embassy; German Embassy; United Nations Resident Coordinator

Dear Your Excellency’s,

CALL FOR TARGETED SANCTIONS AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICERS AIDING, ABETTING AND UNDERMINING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN MALAWI.

Reference is made to our letter dated 30th January 2023 to Your Excellency’s governments and missions to Malawi. We once again write to register our dismay with the continued involvement of the state in undermining corruption fight in the country. We are appalled with the level of corruption which has brought untold misery on the lives of Malawians and poor service delivery including in health sector leading to deaths that would have been avoided.

At the material time when we wrote Your Excellences, the Anti – Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General, Ms. Martha Chizuma had just been arrested and we were meant to believe that the charges were completely dropped according to the Ministerial statement from the Justice Minister. We were shocked therefore, to see the resumption of court case against Chizuma which was the basis of interdicting her as the ACB Czar.

We would like to commend the support and position that members of the diplomatic corps, ambassadors, high commissioners and heads of delegations of various missions to Malawi provided to the citizens of Malawi by ensuring that the Malawi’s champion of corruption fight remains to complete the mission that has started.

While we are aware that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has dropped all the charges against Chizuma and subsequent withdrawal of the interdiction letter by the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC), we are still of the opinion that this is not the last we have heard of this matter, as the court order of the withdraw gave room for the matter to be resurrected at any given time should the state wishes to do so or when certain individuals feel threatened.

We are appalled by the state of corruption in our country and the involvement of the state in undermining the corruption fight. Sadly, Malawi is becoming a haven for money laundering and it seems the authorities will go to any length to protect the wrong doers. To this extent we would like to implore upon Your Excellences not to relent on this matter and continue with targeted sanctions on various officials within the Government including those from the Opposition who are part of the people undermining the corruption fight in the country.

As Forum for National Development (FND) we have done an analysis and profiling of critical individuals and officials whom we think must be considered for sanctioning. While the list is not exhaustive, we would like to request that as you are doing your own analysis, also consider the following officials whom we think that further profiling must be done and their roles in undermining corruption must be examined and action taken on.

Zamba, AG Nyirenda, Chizuma, Chamkakala and Mvalo (from left) meeting Chakwera
  1. The Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Ms. Colleen Zamba

There have been serious allegations made on record to Parliament by Ms. Helen Buluma, the former Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) against the SPC, Ms. Colleen Zamba. The allegations are very damning for an individual holding the office of the SPC and lack of action thereof questions the involvement of the President into the said allegations.

We have noted that the SPC uses her position and proximity to the president to run away from responsibility of being held accountable which included shunning Parliamentary summons to appear before it and respond to the said allegations. The SPC role in the arrest and interdiction of Ms. Chizuma cannot be ignored. We strongly believed that all her actions are aimed at undermining the ACB Director General and subsequent corruption fight in Malawi.

Strangely, when the issue of arrest, court case and interdiction of Chizuma started, there has been state sponsorship of individuals and institutions to buttress the action taken against Chizuma. All these actions in our opinion lead to obstruction and defeating the means of justice where the SPC being the head of the civil services being found in the thick of things.

  • The Attorney General (AG) Mr. Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda

We have done an analysis of the participation of the AG into matters of corruption and we strongly believe the AG is a person of interest and is a major player in undermining the fight against corruption in Malawi. We have noted the following actions from the AG which needs to be carefully monitored.

  1. The AG is accused on record in the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the arrest of Chizuma that he has been delaying issuing a letter of evidence exchange with the National Crimes Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom. The AG has not issued any clarification to these allegations raised and to us we look at this action as undermining the course of justice.
  1. In the US$750,000 botched up fertilizer deal where government issued two payments to Bova Investment Corporation based in United States of America, and another German based company on behalf of a United Kingdom based Barkaat Foods Limited, we have noted the stance that the AG has taken, which is more of a cover up and shielding people behind the fraud.

This case is a purely money laundering and a theft issue. The people behind it planned a heist on public money and the public knows who the people behind the theft are. Ironically, the AG who is supposed to uphold the law and bring the culprits to book, has opted to appoint himself a debt collector.

What is saddening is that the AG is well aware that the money he is pretending to recover was already accessed by the beneficiaries by 16th June 2022 from the German account. The other refund purported from Bova is alleged to have been sourced locally which continue to raise the sincerity of the whole action.

The AG action in this matter is all cover up. The critical question is why is he involving himself in the cover up? During the Parliamentary hearing on the matter, the public was meant to understand the role of one Mr. Moses Khombe and to date no case has been opened against him, neither the people that signed the contract, transferred the money yet the AG sees it prudent to hoodwink the public about recovery of the funds.

  1. We have also analyzed events surrounding the arbitrary detention of Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) Managing Director Mr. Gregory Gondwe and the AG needs to explain his involvement in the whole saga. What the public was told was that the AG apologized for the whole incident. Why was he apologizing? On whose behalf was the AG apologizing for? Who ordered the detention of Gondwe? These are the questions that the AG should have been pursuing and brining to book the culprits behind this atrocious act and the action of the AG shows complicit.
  1. The AG actions towards the continued investigation of the allegations of bribes from British businessman Zuneth Sattar to politically exposed persons in Malawi leaves a lot to be desired and makes one wonder how deep the AG involvement into the matter is. The arbitrary detention of Gregory Gondwe was linked to the stories and exposure the PIJ was carrying related to the issue. The failure or delay of the AG to issue a letter for cooperation agreement between the ACB and NCA is another matter linked to the same.
  • The legal advice to the government comes from the AG. This brings to question what role did the AG play in the arrest of Ms. Chizuma, the state opening up a court case against her, and the interdiction of Ms. Chizuma? Similarly we have also seen a legal opinion from the AG which the SPC and Secretary for Energy has used to undermine Parliament when summoned. To date the SPC and the Secretary for Energy remains in contempt of Parliament, yet the AG is supposed to provide sound legal opinion to the Government.
  • Presidential Advisor, Mr. Admson Mkandawire

Sometime in October 2022, the social media was awash with images of a Presidential Advisor Mr. Admson Mkandawire and Mr. Shyley Kondowe displaying huge sums of United States Dollars on the table. This image appeared immediately upon return of President Chakwera’s trip from United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and Dubai in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The display of the money was a clear sign of money laundering, financial crimes and against the foreign currency laws. The two especially Mkandawire who is the Chief Advisor to President Chakwera needed to explain the source of the money and be held accountable for the action. Sadly we have noted that the Government has not pursued this matter, Mr. Mkandawire has continued to serve in close proximity to President Chakwera.

This matter only confirms our fears that what Mkandawire exposed was a small section of a large scheme on money laundering involving government officials and we wonder how far and deep is the scheme within the Government. If the appointing authority of Mkandawire did not find any reasonable ground to relieve him of his duties while very well aware of the law breaking thereof, should we as Malawians trust our own government that it is going to fight corruption?

Your Excellences, we as an institution that focus on good governance and fighting against corruption as a vice that deters national development, we will continue to do a profile and make recommendations of officials that we believe would be of interest and be put on sanction list. We have a strong belief that until the development partners, bilateral and multilateral partners act in unison to help Malawians in ridding of the cancer of corruption, Malawians will continue to suffer as their trusted officials will continue to steal, abuse office and plunder Malawi without repercussions.

Since the system is being created to shield and protect each other especially those from the ruling elite, targeted sanctions on certain individuals would send a strong message that our partners will not continue to allow impunity, money laundering and corruption to thrive in Malawi.

This fight requires your resolve and commitment to help the majority poor Malawians in the face of an administration which now manipulates every system of government to undermine the fight against corruption. Case in point is Parliament which appointed the Deputy ACB director with serious theft allegations over his head in anticipation of the gentleman replacing Ms. Martha Chizuma. This shows the extent of how the entire government system is compromised. We implore you to seriously consider our suggestions for the sake of the suffering Malawians.

We seek your serious and urgent consideration on this matter.

Yours in Malawi’s Service,

Fryson Chodzi

NATIONAL COORDINATOR

corruption, Malawi

No silly excuses for Chizuma to deliver as SPC Zamba withdraws interdiction letter

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba has withdrawn interdiction letter issued to embattled Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Martha Chizuma.

This follows Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) dropping all criminal charges against Chizuma on January 2022 leaked audio.

In a letter dated February 13, 2023, SPC Zamba re-instates Chizuma as ACB Director General.

Zamba withdraws Chizuma interdiction letter

This means Chizuma has no any excuses now failing to deliver as no legal matters are in place.

Malawi, Politics

Malawi Catholic’ CCJP dares Chakwera to suspend corrupt SPC Zamba

Maravi Post Reporter
Buluma exposed Zamba in corruption tendencies

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Catholic church through Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has dared President Lazarus Chakwera to suspend officers implicated in alleged corrupt fuel deals at the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma).

The commission has also asked Chakwera to demonstrate his sincerity and genuine commitment to supporting the ACB and its director general Martha Chizuma by, among others, providing security to officers at the bureau.

CCJP has made the demands in its statement released last night and signed by all its nine coordinators

The title of the statement reads: “The prevailing social economic and political situation in Malawi”.

Former acting chief executive officer of Nocma Helen Buluma implicated Nocma’s board Chairperson Colleen Zamba and Secretary for Energy Alphonso Chikuni in alleged fuel deals corruption at the institution.

Currently, Chakwera is under pressure to sack Zamba and Chikuni as are very close family friends and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) members.

Law and order, Politics

Embattled SPC Zamba faces contempt of Parliament

Maravi Post Reporter
Colleen Zamba and Chakwera caught

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament has officially written Speaker of the National Assembly, Catherine Gotani Hara on embattled Secretary to President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba along side with National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) board’s failure to appear before the committee following its summon.

PAC Chairperson, Joyce Chitsulo told The Maravi Post that her committee wrote the Speaker on Friday, November 25, 2022 on Zamba’s sabotage.

Chitsulo however quoted Parliamentary Standing Order 163 {3} which requires the matter to be reported to the Speaker’s office where there is suspected contempt of parliament.

Hara is yet to confirm if she has received PAC’s communication on the matter.

The Committee wanted the board to explain its side after NOCMA’s former acting Chief Executive Officer; Hellen Buluma alleged Zamba was forcing her to award fuel supply contracts to certain companies without following procurement procedures.

Buy Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda had advised the board the board to ignore the PAC’s summon; arguing it does not have such a mandate.

However, Malawi Law Society (MLS) disagreed with Nyirenda arguing that Standing Order 157 (a) of Parliament empowers PAC to scrutinize, consider and enquire into the competence of public appointees under the Constitution and report to the Assembly including AG himself.

The Section 60 (3) of the Malawi Constitution says, “the National Assembly and any committee of the National Assembly shall have the power to conduct investigations and exercise the power to subpoena the attendance of any person or office holder whosoever as required in connection with the prudent exercise of the functions of the National Assembly and failure to attend without leave or without valid reason or excuse shall be held to be a contempt of the National Assembly or committee in question.”

This week Buluma dressed down Zamba’s corruption tendencies just a few months as NOCMA board chairperson.

corruption, Malawi, Opinion

Patriotic Helen Buluma stands tall in exposing Chakwera’s MCP corrupt leadership

Maravi Post Author 1 Comment

………….Reverend Lazarus Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) will never changes for torturing Malawians with corruption, greed, cruelty, nepotism…..

Buluma exposed Zamba in corruption tendencies

By Burnett Munthali

First, whether Helen Buluma, the former National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was rightly or wrongly appointed in her position by the former President Arthur Peter Mutharika, one thing still remains and stands out about her. She was professional on her job.

The competence or skill demonstrated by Helen was unquestionable. She was key to quality and efficiency and professionalism.

The skill, good judgment, and patriotic behavior was shown by Buluma as someone who was trained and willing to do the job well. Buluma is a true professional who is reliable, competent, and maintained her poise throughout her job up to the time she resigned. She never gave in to any pressure.

Confidence

Second, you can clearly see and visualize or hear the confidence from Buluma as she testifies in front of Public Appointments Committee (PAC) in Parliament. This tells you something that the lady was explaining something that happened behind scenes and also in her full view as some top officials in politics and government defraud this country further to the level of one of the poorest in the world.

She was self-assured. This applies to everything from who she is as a person, that is, her character, and to her accomplishments. She knows exactly who she is and she has done a good job.

Patriotism

Third, the former CEO is patriotic to her own country Malawi if you connect the dots carefully and very well. She demonstrated this during her term of office and when she opened up to PAC. Those who cannot see this it’s just unfortunate that they can’t.

She is patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for her country.
A highly dedicated officer of unquestionable integrity and patriotism, patriotic sentiment, loyalism, chauvinism, jingoism, flag-waving.

Helen Buluma has the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to her own country.

Honesty

Fourth, Helen is honest with herself, her job, radio interviews, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Parliament. Whatever has been provided to the nation was out of honesty as more revelations are coming out on the same but from other quarters one by one and they are just facts.

She spoke with convincing honesty about her fears and frustration on the job. Moral correctness, uprightness, honourableness, honour, integrity, morals, morality, ethics, principle, (high) principles, nobility, righteousness, rectitude, right-mindedness, upstandingness, virtue, goodness, probity, worthiness, high-mindedness, justness, fairness, incorruptibility, truthfulness, truth, veracity, trustworthiness, reliability, conscientiousness, scrupulousness, reputability, dependability, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, sincerity, candour, frankness, directness, forthrightness, openness, straightforwardness, plainness, genuineness, bluntness, outspokenness

Courage

Fifth, Buluma is a courageous lady who stood firm against being pushed by different forces from Colleen Zamba Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) State House, cabinet ministers, principal secretary, party officials from the ruling government and the Nigerian Chief . The former CEO resisted the pressure of signing bogus fuel supply deals which would have tarnished the image of Malawi further into being considered as idiots who don’t think.

MCP government corruption

Seventh, iron lady Helen Buluma, has smartly and eloquently exposed government corruption as many quarters have always said.

Scared politicians

Eighth, the former CEO, for sure, scared the corrupt politicians connected to the cobwebs of corruption as she went ahead revealing the saga in Parliament. There was an attempt by the Attorney General, Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda to stop Helen Buluma and Colleen Zamba from appearing before Parliament. The testimony given to PAC by the former CEO was definitely a bomb that scared crows for sure (akhwangwala) as they have no place to hide anymore. From fertilizer corruption to fuel corruption.

She has mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. The former CEO has the ability to do something even if it is frightening because of her bravery.
She took on all her courage to stand her ground and face the harsh treatment from her bosses for choosing to stand for what she believed was right and appropriate for NOCMA and Malawi.

Helen Buluma decided to do something difficult or dangerous, even though it was scary. She has impressed everyone with her authority and personal courage. She does not have the courage to apologise for her actions because she just made the right decisions.

Procurement corruption occurs as a result of a conflict of interest situation where a public official wants to secure for himself or herself and related parties, the benefits which rightly belong to the public, by bypassing the formal requirements for the awarding of these privileges. The common errors are associated to lack of transparency and equal treatment, discriminatory criteria, artificial splitting of the contracts, and conflict of interest.

Procurement Fraud/Malpractices do not occur anywhere away from the Procurement Cycle. They actually occur within these limits. They come with unlawful manipulation and dishonestly obtaining an advantage in the process to acquire goods or service. Corruption erodes the trust we have in the public sector to act in our best interests. It also wastes our taxes or rates that have been earmarked for important community projects – meaning we have to put up with poor quality services or infrastructure, or we miss out altogether.

Corruption does not only occur in government buildings. You can see corruption in your daily life. It impacts the implementation of the rule of law and democratic values. It takes funding away from important infrastructure investments such as roads, schools and hospitals, and deters international investors.

Corruption also generates a lack of transparency and a lack of control by supervisory institutions. Therefore, where there is insufficient legal basis or sufficient political will to control, which enables a non-transparent functioning of both politics and the economy, corruption flourishes.

Lessons

Finally, we must learn lessons from the iron lady Helen Buluma out of all this. When you are given a job to do, be professional, confident, patriotic, honest, courageous, firm and speak out clearly when chances arise. Do not be part of the corrupt !

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor

Opinion, Politics

Chilima arrest is Chakwera’s desperate MCP operatives to divert Malawians attention on shameless SPC Zamba’s NOCMA, Auzano fertilizer scandals

Maravi Post Author
Saulos Chilima in court for corruption

By Deus Chikalaza

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is under intense pressure to win back Malawians trust over numerous scandals being exposed just two years in power.

Reverend Chakwera has been betrayed by his own trusted errands whom were put in key Tonse Alliance government position.

Chakwera with appetite for power despite his incompetency to run state affairs as proved in the last two years, he is trying to use all tactics to win lost glory that put him to power in 2020.

Despite all desperation attempts to stick to power though he promised Malawians to resign if he failed to govern, Chakwera with MCP still facing shame day in day out.

Evidenced Chakwera’s errands including embattled Finance Minister Sosten Gwengwe, Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba have put MCP into dark page from Malawians on how corrupt and greedy the party is.

Buluma spits venom at Zamba and Indirectly claps back at Lazarus Chakwera

For starters, the duo Gwengwe and Zamba including Chakwera himself have been caught in US$170 million Auzano’s bogus fertilizer deal and unattained National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) fuel contracts to suppliers respectively.

Facts check on how Chakwera, Zamba are involved into US$170m Auzano bogus fertilizer deal

Evidence is riffle all over on how the two were involved into corruption under Chakwera watch.

Despite that Chakwera chose to pursue on the matter of his deputy Saulos Chilima which even Attorney General (AG) Chakaka Nyirenda advised Tonse Alliance government to tread carefully.

There is no single evidence in public domain that really shows that his deputy was involved in any corruption but only using social media.

There is much evidence; documents, emails that show that SPC Zamba, Gwengwe have been involved into corruption, but Chakwera remain quite.

It’s also surprising to learn that MCP lawyer Senior Counsel Mordecai Msiska (private lawyer) is joining Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to prosecute Chilima, the same person who was leading MCP and UTM election case in 2020.

Chakwera must deal with Zamba and Gwengwe, the same way he did with former cabinet ministers Newton Kambala, Ken Kandodo, Robin Lowe and others aids over numerous scandals.

Shameless leadership: Chakwera’s Tonse caught again U$170 million AIP deal with ghost UK Company

Chilima arrest is MCP operative move to divert Malawians attention from Auzano Fertilizers and NOCMA fuels deals.

Its a calculated move alongside embattled ACB Director General Martha Chizuma to look relevant after loosing Malawians trust over her incompetence.

Reverend Chakwera needs to resigns himself for being part of the corrupt leadership whose errands are being caught day in day out.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor