Some teachers who were recently transferred by the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) from their duty stations to other districts have given the office of the Attorney General (AG) 48 hours to facilitate the reversal of their transfer.
This is contained in a notice that the teachers have made to the AG’s office through Taulo and Associates legal practitioners.
The notice is dated April 3, 2025 where Bettie Phiri versus the Attorney General (Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Education) is asking the AG to stop the implementation of the decision to transfer Bettie Phiri and other seven teachers to other districts on the grounds that they exercised their right to participate in peaceful demonstrations.
Last month, some concerned civil servants— primary school teachers in particular—organised demonstrations against the proposed 20 percent salary increment in Lilongwe.
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The demonstrations were, however, stopped by panga-wielding men, who eventually hacked and roughed up some of the teachers.
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Shortly after this, LGSC transferred leaders of the concerned civil servants from their respective duty stations to other schools.
The leaders are Jane Sandina, Rabecca Malizani, Gloria Kagona, Bettie Mponda (Phiri), Moses Zimba, Trouble Muyaba, Yesaya Kaoza and Madalitso Banda.
In the notice, the teachers want the AG’s office to liaise with the Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Education to reverse the decision.
“If we do not receive any response within 48 hours, we shall have no option but to proceed with judicial review proceedings at the expiry of the 48 hours and after [the] lapse of 90 days statutory notice period, we shall commence action to seek damages for the violations,” the notice reads.
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The teachers say they believe that the AGs office was better placed to stop the transfer.
“It is our client’s belief that your office, as a constitutional office, has an obligation to advise the officers responsible not to implement the decision that is clearly a violation of rights guaranteed by our constitution,” the notice adds.
AG Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda said he was not in receipt of the notice.
“I haven’t yet received the request,” Nyirenda said.
But the notice, which The Daily Times has seen, shows that it was delivered to the office of the AG on Monday this week.
The Government Negotiating Team, led by Charles Kalemba, and Civil Servants Trade Union and Teachers Union of Malawi, among others, agreed to the 20 percent salary increment following a series of talks.
However, the increment has been received negatively by some civil servants, who have described it as a pittance.
