By Isaac Salima:
Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services former principal human resources officer Daston Manda has implicated some former State House officials and Cabinet ministers, telling the Blantyre Magistrate Court that they provided names of people to be considered for the post of immigration assistant.
In 2017, the department recruited 127 immigration assistants who were deployed to posts across the country.
However, investigations revealed that there were some anomalies in the recruitment process, leading to the arrest of the then Homeland minister Cecelia Chazama, Immigration Department former director Masauko Medi and five other public officers on allegations that they abused office.
When he appeared in court Wednesday, Manda, who was arrested together with the accused before turning into a State witness, told the court that State House former officials such as press secretary Mgeme Kalirani, former Cabinet ministers Charles Mchacha, Joseph Mwanamvekha, Paul Chibingu, among others, provided names to be considered for the job.
In cross-examination by State lawyer Michael Kalonga, Manda produced evidence, in the form of written documents, from some senior government officials who instructed him on what to do.
“The requirement was that one needed to have an MSCE [Malawi School Certificate of Education] certificate with six credits.
“However, some of the people I was given for consideration were less qualified for the job,” Manda said.
He said about 36,000 people applied for the post, out of whom 12,000 applicants were shortlisted for interviews.
He told the court that Chazama provided 18 names of people for consideration while Medi also gave his list, which included people who had less qualifications.
The other accused persons in the case include Human Resource Management and Development Principal Secretary Hilario Chimota and Immigration Department officials Pudensiana Makalamba, Limbani Chawinga and Chandiwira Chidothe.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested the accused last year and charged them with one count of abuse of office.
Chief Resident Magistrate Chisomo Msokera has adjourned the matter to today.
