DPP sympathisers penetrate boards
Some notable Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) sympathisers have been appointed board directors and members in several State corporations in the recent appointment by President Peter Mutharika.
According to our observation, at least each board has a member who is deemed to be a DPP sympathiser including chiefs who were on record lobbying for votes for DPP during the campaign period.
Among other DPP-affiliated appointees are Tusekele Mwanyongo, Marriam Chimbalanga, Senior Chief Lukwa, Senior Chief Khongoni, Apostle Dr Madalitso Mbewe, Senior Chief Kaomba, Stone Mwamadi and Fryson Chodzi.
However, Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani said the appointing authority does not look at what particular party an individual belongs to when the appointments are made.
“I do not understand in the first place when you say there are notable people who are DPP followers or Cadets as you may call them. I don’t understand what you make of that, I don’t know how you define a cadet because, in my view, the appointing authority, the President, in this case, looks around to get people, first of all, Malawians who are competent to serve in the boards and that is what he has done.
“He does not necessarily look at a particular party one belongs to, his primary mandate is to appoint someone who is competent enough to serve the board they have been appointed to,” he said.
University of Malawi’s Chancellor College-based and University of Livingstonia political analysts Ernest Thindwa and George Phiri respectively described the situation as unfortunate arguing such appointees do not add value to the various boards they are appointed to.
Phiri said what this means is that government does not understand the needs of Malawians arguing that is why many people are taking part in the demonstrations.
“They were by this time supposed to understand that if the appointments are merely political, then how are they going to deliver to the needs of Malawians because Malawians need a government that can deliver and their expectations are very high to see them delivering.
“But if people will just be there to warm the seats because they do not have the capacity and professionalism to work in those boards, then likely the government will not perform because performance of the government is rated by the institutions and how they deliver to the people,” he said.
In 2018, the DPP government was under fire for appointing Chief Lundu as board chairperson for Malawi Blood Transfusion Services.
The appointment was deemed political as Lundu was vocal in promoting government
