LL City boss sent on leave, Makanga takes over
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has sent on three months leave Lilongwe City Council (LCC) chief executive officer (CEO) Moza Zeleza to pave the way for an investigation into the council’s “gross underperformance”
Lilongwe district commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga has since been appointed LCC CEO.
In a letter reference number C/61/01/03 to Zeleza, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Principal Secretary Kinswell Dakamau said the ministry will commence investigations into the performance of the council, which it says was a matter of concern to the city residents.
The ministry’s spokesperson Muhlabase Mughogho confirmed the appointment of Makanga and said Lawford Palani has since been appointed acting DC for Lilongwe District Council.
She said: “I can confirm the developments.”
In the letter to Zeleza, which The Nation has seen, the ministry said government was dissatisfied with the dismal performance of Lilongwe City Council in respect of implementation of projects and service delivery in general, saying it has led to loss of confidence in the council by the general public.
Reads the letter in part: “You may wish to know that the general public, including the mayor, councillors as well as city residents, have expressed deep concerns on deteriorating environmental cleanliness which subsequently poses a great health hazard to the city residents.”
Dakamau said other areas of concern to government include the below par performance in implementation of projects such as roads upgrading, street lights installations and poor implementation among directorates of the council activities and resolutions.
Reads the letter: “In view of the above, I write to inform you that on the directive of government, I grant you three months leave effective 16 May 2017 pending investigations into the causes that have led to the underperformances of the city council.”
In a telephone interview yesterday, Makanga said he was yet to receive the communication from the ministry. n
That is the problem of appointing people on political grounds. Where did Zeleza attend interviews?
The guy was retrenched at Reserve Bank and through political links found himself at City Assembly. He failed to do even the simplest things.
Advertise the post and get the best person for the job.