The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has implemented a fresh round of transfers involving district commissioners (DCs) across the country while retaining all chief executive officers (CEOs) for major cities.
According to a document seen by our office, Lilongwe DC Lawford Palani has been transferred to Kasungu District Council, and is replaced by Stallichi Mwambiwa, who moves to Lilongwe from Dowa.
Zomba DC Reinghard Chavula has been moved to Mchinji and replaced by Fredrick Misanjo, while Blantyre DC Alex Mdooko has been retained.
Others who have been retained include David Gondwe, DC for Nkhata Bay, and Abubakar Nkhoma, DC for Likoma.
Other changes include Chitipa DC Frank Mkandawire, who has been moved to Chikwawa, while Dominic Mwandira of Nsanje has been transferred to Chitipa.
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Former Phalombe DC MacMillan Magomero has been transferred to Mulanje, with the Phalombe post now taken over by Yobu Francis Gama.
George Ngaiyaye, who was DC for Ntcheu, has been replaced by Francis Matewere, previously working at Chiradzulu Council.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has maintained Macloud Kadam’manja, Denis Chinseu, Ernest Kadzokoya, Archangel Bakolo and Gomezgani Nyasulu as CEOs for Lilongwe City, Blantyre City, Mangochi Municipal, Zomba City and Mzuzu City respectively.
According to the ministry, Karonga will now have a CEO, Isaac Mkandawire, who will serve in an acting capacity.
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The post of CEO for Luncheza Municipality is yet to be filled.
However, some DCs have been left out completely, while others have taken up positions at the ministry.
These include Hudson Kuphanga, formerly of Thyolo District, Douglas Moffat, formerly of Phalombe District, and Rodgers Newa, formerly of M’mbelwa District Council.
In an interview yesterday, Newa said he was on a three-year contract, which ends this Friday.
“I did not push for an extension because I am also nearing my retirement age,” he said.
Kuphanga, on the other hand, said he could not comment as he had learnt the news on social media.
Others have been redeployed to the central office, including Lusizi Nhlane, formerly at Ntchisi District Council, and Oscar Kumwenda, formerly at Dedza.
Currently, Rosemary Nawasha has been posted to Dedza, while Annie Zimba has taken up the post at Ntchisi District.
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira said the wave of DC and CEO transfers should not simply be dismissed as a normal civil service routine.
Kambwandira said in any healthy governance system, transfers should follow transparent criteria.
