9 Immigration senior staff promoted
President Lazarus Chakwera has promoted nine senior staff in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services, including four women to the ranks of commissioners and deputy commissioners.
Those promoted to commissioner are Vivian Kasambo who wi l l be responsible for administration and McCloud Kalindang’oma who will be based at Immigration headquarters . They bring the number of commissioners in the department to three.
On the other hand, the seven deputy commissioners are Paul Sankhulani, Maureen Kachingwe Mtambalika, Martha Gonondo, Kenani Kapalasa, Tamanya Mfune Nanseta, Gibson Chilongo and Ruth Kapselambwinja Katsulukuta.
Ministry of Homeland Security Principal Secretary Steven Kayuni in an interview yesterday expressed optimism that the promotions will motivate senior staff and their subordinates to improve service delivery at the department.
“Motivation of staff at every institution is key to public service delivery. High command leadership installation at immigration is crucial to effective service to Malawians. Let them go and serve to the satisfaction of Malawians,” he said.
Commenting on the promotions, 50:50 Campaign Management Agency team leader Viwemi Chavula commended the President for achieving the 60:40 representation in the Immigration Department promotions.
However, he noted that it should not only be females who should be taking the 40 percent share in the decision-making positions.
Said Chavula: “It is work in progress and we congratulate them, but we think there is still room to improve. So, we call upon the appointing authority to make sure that they can also steal the tables to say 60 might mean females and 40 males, especially where you have very few women in the uniformed positions.”
The elevations, the first at this level in six years, come after Homeland Security Minister Ken committed in April this year to push for the promotions.
Last week, Vice- President Michael Usi also visited the Immigration headquarters and learnt that lack of promotions was among the issues affecting service delivery.
The department has been under intense pressure to deal with challenges bordering on passport issuance and illegal immigrants.
These are the first promotions since the cancellation of the $60.8 million (about K103.3 billion) Techno Brain contract in December 2021 led to passport issuance challenges.
The deal was for Techno Brain Global FZE of the United Arab Emirates to upgrade the country ’s passport issuance system.
In April this year, the government engaged E -Te c h S y s t e m s , a Malawian firm, replacing Techno Brain as the new passport system supplier.
