Tag Archives: Juliana Kaduya

Malawi

Councilors gang against LCC CEO John Chome over MCP offices’ closure

Maravi Post Reporter
John Chomwe: LCC CEO

Lilongwe City Council (LCC) Chief Executive Officer John Chome is likely to be transferred as councilors have ganged against him following the closure of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) headquarters over unpaid city rates last week.

While the councilors say their demand for firing of the CEO are due to delay of salaries for staff members at the council, Maravi Post is reliably informed that the decision has been made at a party meeting held on Sunday.

The councillors, led by Mayor Juliana Kaduya have today sealed offices of Chome and other senior officers at Civic offices in Lilongwe.

According to Mayor Kaduya, the action has been taken due delayed salaries.

Kaduya added that council staff received a letter that salaries will delay as the council has no money and that only junior members of staff will get salaries.

She further said that the letter does not indicate dates when the other employees as well as councillors will receive their salaries.

She also expressed doubts over claims that the council is financially struggling, saying even the Chairperson of Finance Committee is not aware that the council does not have money.

The councilors are demanding the resignation or firing of Chome, Director of Finance and Director of Human Resources.

This is happening after administration staff of  Lilongwe City Council on Thursday last week sealed the MCP Headquarters due to unpaid city rates.

The offices were reopened after the Mayor Juliana Kaduya who is a member of the Malawi Congress Party rushed to the premises and negotiated with officials from her council for the re-opening of the offices.

In 2017, the council told the party that it was required to pay K265 Million city rates for the property which is located at City Centre in the Capital City.

Law and order

Lilongwe City Council demolishes former Malawi First Lady Gertrude Mutharika’s BEAM Trust Statue

Maravi Post Reporter
BEAM trust statue demolished

By Tawonga Sesani

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe city council on Thursday, May 13, 2021 demolished a statue that was build by former First Lady Gertrude Mutharika’s Beautify Malawi (BEAM) Trust at Parliament building in Lilongwe.

The city mayor Juliana Kaduya told Maravi Post that BEAM did not consult the city council when they where constructing the statue.

Kaduya said as the council they have resolved to demolish the structure since they can not give answers to the residents when they ask to explain as what the structure meant

She further revealed that the council has given constructs to various people to manage roundabouts in the city and the place has been given to someone who has different plans.

“We are removing this structure because we don’t know the meaning of the it, we were even failing to explain to residents and tourist what it was all about, so after the outcry of people we have resolved in demolishing it”, she said

The structure was constructed by BEAM trust in 2016/2017 with the aim of beautifying Malawi.

Malawi

Newly elected Lilongwe deputy mayor Juliana Kaduya in hiding: DPP thugs vow to deal with her

Maravi Post correspondent

The newly elected Lilongwe deputy mayor, councilor Juliana Kaduya of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has been in hiding since Thursday last week after receiving death threats from some senior DPP officials.

DPP thugs baying for Kaduya’s blood

Speaking to the media in a telephone interview from unknown hiding place, Kaduya confirmed the development saying her life was in danger.

She said the ruling DPP is accusing her of helping the MCP candidate Desmond Bikoko to win the mayor’s elections of Lilongwe city.

“It’s true that I am in hiding, this is because some DPP senior officials are on my life. They said I am the one who helped the MCP candidate Desmond Bikoko to win the mayor’s election,” said Kaduya.

When asked if she reported the matter to the police, Kaduya said both the police and the council are aware about the development.

“I told the police the same day when one of the DPP senior officials threatened me not to come outside the elections’ hall saying they will kill me but the police never acted on the matter,” she said.

She said “I don’t know what they want. I am a DPP follower and will die a DPP.”

However, DPP officials have trashed the allegations.

Meanwhile, commentators have argued that DPP is giving itself a bad name by refusing to accept defeat honourably and the party has been urged to have a moment of reflection other than continuing with its savage culture.

DPP has been accused of abductions and killings in the past by opponents.

 

Regional, Top News

Malawi Mayoral polls: MCP’s Bikoko elected mayor for Lilongwe City Council, promises forensic audit for past three financial years

Maravi Post correspondent 1 Comment

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) councilor for Chigoneka ward Desmond Bikoko has been elected Lilongwe City Council Mayor replacing the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councilor for Kawale 1 Ward Willie Chipondera.

Desmond Bikoko: elected mayor for Lilongwe City Council

Councilor Bikoko beat independent councilor for Chimutu ward Akwame Bandawe  who was a former deputy mayor.

Bandawe, who got nominated by DPP councilors, was defeated in full view of his party’s gurus including secretary general Francis Mphepo and presidential advisor Hetherwick Ntaba.

The position of deputy major has gone to Juliana Kaduya who beat Christopher Namankhwa with 17 votes against 14, both from the ruling DPP.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected mayor Bikoko assured the general public of non-partisanship in the mayoral leadership.

Bikoko disclosed that his first duty in office is to make sure that the council is audited for the past three financial year warning that those that lost finances through fraud will be tracked down.

He hinted that his mayoral term will not be business as usual as he will be totally committed to rebranding Lilongwe city to match with international standards.

“This is my second time to contest on this post. Last time I lost and I accepted that it wasn’t my time. Honestly, am happy that Lilongwe has chosen “hope over fear” and development over division. We promise to generate enough revenue for the development of the city by reviewing also our by-laws”, assured Bikoko.

MCP director of elections Maxwell Thyolera did not mince words saying that it was an extraordinary moment to have Bikoko as Mayor of Lilongwe, the move which will boost the party’s strength in Lilongwe ahead of 2019 general elections.

But DPP SG Mphepo downplayed the loss arguing that the win for a mayoral post in the capital was not enough to guarantee for winning general elections.

Bikoko holds Masters Degrees in Project Management and Business Management from Colorado Technical University and a PhD in International Business.

Meanwhile, both Blantyre and Mzuzu city councils will conduct their mayoral polls on January 9, 2017.