By Cathy Maulidi:
Civil society organisations (CSOs) have queried the appointment of David Bisnowaty as Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Malawi in Israel, faulting government for flouting procedures.
However, government has watered down the issue, saying it is not spending any tambala on Bisnowaty.
CSOs that have queried the manner in which Bisnowaty has been appointed include Forum for National Development (FND) and Centre for Social Accountability (Csat), which are demanding accountability on the issue.
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As at now, FND has raised the issue up with the Public Appointments Committee (Pac) of Parliament.
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In a letter to Parliament, which FND Coordinator Fryson Chodzi has signed, the non-State actor describes Bisnowaty’s appointment as unprocedural.
It implores Pac and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials to come clean on the issue.
“It is our contention that this appointment was made without proper adherence to the laws of Malawi. Notably, there was no apparent involvement of Parliament, specifically the Public Appointments Committee, in the confirmation process of Bisnowaty,” the letter reads.
Chodzi argues that Section 190 of the Malawi Constitution, which governs the appointment of diplomatic personnel, provides for steps to follow when appointing diplomatic staff.
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“Ambassadors, high commissioners and such other principal diplomatic staff, as shall be determined by an Act of Parliament, shall be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Public Appointments Committee which may require persons so appointed to answer questions as to their competence and financial probity.
“The section stipulates that individuals holding positions such as Charge d’Affaires must undergo confirmation by Pac, which reserves the right to assess their competency and financial probity,” it says.
Chodzi demands that Bisnowaty undergoes the due process as mandated by the law before continuing to represent Malawi.
Weighing in on the issue, Csat Executive Director Willy Kambwandira said there is a need for transparency on the issue of Bisnowaty’s appointment.
He further demanded answers as to why the envoy is offering services pro-bono.
“We are greatly concerned with the continued lack of transparency on the government diplomatic engagement with Israel, and this raises a lot of accountability questions and suspicions,” Kambwandira said.
Pac Chairperson Joyce Chitsulo confirmed receiving the letter from FND, saying the committee will look into it and map the way forward in line with constitutional and parliamentary procedures.
Chitsulo added that they have questioned the conduct of Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials on some issues.
“We, as a committee, already noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sending principal officers to embassies and consulars without confirmation by Pac. We, as a committee, wrote them and they [officials from the ministry] once appeared before the committee on the same. When we meet during our quarterly committee meeting from May 20, we will summon them to explain why they are continuing to violate the law,” Chitsulo said.
But Foreign Affairs Minister Nancy Tembo told The Daily Times that as Charge d’Affaire, Bisnowaty does not require to go through the process that FND is suggesting.
She said the process would be followed when Malawi appoints an ambassador .
“He is a Malawian of Jewish origin; he has been an MP [Member of Parliament] before and he is just helping us for free—using his resources. We are not paying him,” Tembo said.
Last month, Malawi announced that it had opened an embassy in Tel Aviv, eyeing longstanding bilateral relations with Israel.
