Tag Archives: Roads Authority

Malawi

Malawi’s Transport Minister Jacob Hara fires Roads Authority Board over incompetence

Maravi Post Reporter

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.

Hara unhappy with RA board

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.

Malawi

Torrential rains cut down Salima-Nkhotakota M5 road

Maravi Post Reporter

By Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Torrential rains on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 cut down Salima-Nkhotakota M5 road at Khombedza trading centre 15km away from Kaphatenga in Salima district.

The section connects Nkhota-kota and Salima.

No direct passage from Salima to Nkhotakota

In a statement, the Roads Authority (RA) says the works to reinstate the section have commenced but are being hampered by persistent rainfall in the area.

Meanwhile, RA has advised the road users to use M001 road that joins the Kasungu-Nkhota-kota M18 road when traveling to Nkhotakota.

The authority adds that the Traffic signs have been placed at strategic positions on this road for guidance and direction.

The statement has also extended advising road users in the country to always travel with caution on all roads during this rainy season.

Since January this year,there has been heavy downpour in most parts of the country resulting in floods that have caused devastating damage of properties.

Malawi

Embattled Malawi Roads Authority Boss Emmanuel Matapa sacked

Maravi Post Reporter
Engineer Emmanuel Matapa sacked as RA boss

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)–The Roads Authority (RA) board on Saturday, October 30, 2021 fired chief executive officer Engineer Emmanuel Matapa and director of corporate services Auda Msiska.

RA Board chairperson Joe Ching’ani confirmed the firing of Matapa and Msiska but failed to give deals behind the sacking of the two.

“It is true that the board has terminated his contract. But for more details contact the authority’s spokesperson. Msiska’s contract has also been terminated. The reasons are contained in the termination letter,” says Ching’ani.

RA publicist told The Sunday Nation that “At present, what I can say is that the board of directors of the Roads Authority, has evoked clause 4(b) of Conditions of Employment Contract and terminated the services of CEO.”

Matapa’s dismissal comes a week after RA was fined K6.3 million for violating the Environment Management Act after it started the upgrading of the Kenyatta Drive in Lilongwe before its environmental and social impact assessment report was approved.

President Lazarus Chakwera launched the project, which will expand the road into six lanes, on August 31 this year and since then, RA has cut down dozens of natural mibawa trees, triggering an outcry from environmentalists.

The Malawi Environmental Protection Authority imposed the fine which the RA is expected to pay within 30 days before the project can resume.

Matapa was appointed CEO in August 2017 after rising through the ranks, having joined the authority, then known as National Roads Authority, in 2001.

Matapa did not pick up his phone his when we tried to seek his reaction.

However, Human Rights Consultative Committee chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba told the same paper that suspected foulplay in his dismissal, alleging that the board had already been working to get rid of him.

He said: “It’s an unfortunate situation. We have been noting the irregular conduct of the board. In a normal situation, the board is supposed to meet four times a year, but they met six times in six months and we gathered that the agenda was always to terminate his contract.”

Mkwezalamba said his organisation reported the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau so it could investigate the board’s conduct.

“The bureau asked us to furnish it with more information and we did that. And we are waiting for feedback as to how they have progressed with the matter,” he said.

corruption, Malawi

Busted! Former Malawi President Mutharika’s step son Mafudza caught illegally drawing salaries from two parastatals

Maravi Post Reporter
Gertrude-Mutharia-son-Tadikira-Mabfuza

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)- Rumours have been rife of how the former Malawi first family, especially the former First Lady, Gertrude Mutharika and her son from her previous marriage, Tadikira Mafudza, were fleecing Malawian taxpayers but concrete evidence has been lacking.

However, it appears their chickens may have come home to roost, at least for Peter Mutharika’s step son, Tadikira.

Investigations by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition, HRDC, have established that Tadikira was drawing salaries from Lilongwe Water Board and the Roads Authority.

In a letter addressed to the Anti Corruption Bureau, ACB, Director, signed by HRDC National Chaiperson, Gift Trapence and its National Coordinator, Luke Tembo, the human rights watchdog states,

“HRDC has also received allegations that LWB had on its payroll, President Mutharika’s stepson, Tadikira. His name was reflected in the engineering section. It is alleged that despite being paid by LWB, Tadikira never reported for duties. It is also alleged that his name was also appearing on the payroll of Roads Authority”.

Tadikira is understood to have been employed by the Roads Authority.

In its letter, HRDC has also taken issue with the fact that LWB close to MK 30 million for the construction of the statue at Parliament roundabout in Lilongwe, City Centre, on behalf of Beautify Malawi, BEAM, Trust, apparently as part of LWB’s corporate social responsibility.

Coincidentally, BEAM trust is run by Tadikira’s mother, Gertrude Mutharika, Peter Mutharika’s wife and former First Lady.

HRDC has accused LWB officials of “abuse of office to appease their political masters” and has asked the ACB to investigate the allegations. HRDC has also demanded that the money be paid back.

In a related development, HRDC has also written ACB, asking the the bureau to investigate allegations of abuse of office at Blantyre City Council in the way the way the council got into a 1 year contract to hire BEAM Trust refuse collection trucks at the rate of MK 60, 000.00 per day, totaling to MK 22 million a year.

The deal has been faulted for flouting procurement procedures as the council did not seek approval from the office of Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Director.

Ironically, BEAM Trust, a charity, got the vehicles as a donation from the Republic of China.

Mutharika lost to Lazarus Chakwera of Tonse during the June 23, 2020 presidential elections