Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi has come under fire for allegedly usurping the power of the Non- Governmental Organisations Regulatory Authority (Ngora) board by seconding its chief executive officer (CEO) Felix Lombe to Malawi College of Accountancy (MCA).
Nat i o na l A d vo c ac y Platform (NAP), Centre for Social Transparency and Accountability (Csat) and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) have since argued that the decision contravens Section 19 of the Ngora Act, which vests such powers in the board.
In a letter to Lombe dated April 14 2026, Saidi said Lombe will serve as a lecturer under the Ngora employment contract and that the secondment shall be governed by the Malawi Public Service Regulations provisions.
It reads in part: “The secondment may be cancelled at any time before the end of the agreed-upon secondment period if a need arises and with the mutual agreement of the parties.
“Under these secondment terms, you will remain a Ngora employee and you shall continue to be paid all the employment benefits [and] entitlements in accordance with your employment contract.”
But NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said under Section 19 of the NGO Act, removal or secondment cannot
be dictated by the Executive, but must originate from and be sanctioned by, the board itself in accordance with the law.
He said the appointment, deployment and management of staff fall within the mandate of the board, not the Chief Secretary and that Saidi’s decision is susceptible to challenge.
“More critically, this action places an apolitical regulatory authority at the centre of political control, which offends the foundational underpinning of Ngora and its governance fabric.
“If normalised, it would entrench Executive overreach, reduce boards to ceremonial bodi es and erode the independence and credibility of statutory institutions,” said Kondowe.
On his part, CHRR executive director Michael Kaiyatsa said ignoring safeguards for statutory bodies sends a dangerous
message that legal procedures are optional and can be adjusted for administrative convenience.
On his part, Csat executive director Willy Kambwandira said under the NGO Act, the board is the competent authority responsible for appointing, supervising and by implication, effecting any secondment or transfer of the CEO.
In an interview, Ngora Board chairperson Bertha Lipipa-Phiri confirmed being aware of the letter to Lombe.
However, when Saidi was first contacted he stated that he was not aware of the letter and needed to find out. But when told that he signed it, he said he would call back as he needed to attend a meeting.
However, he did not call back by press time.
Section 19 (1) of the NGO Act says the board shall appoint the registrar who shall be the CEO and secretary to the board and under Subsection (2) the terms and conditions of service of the registrar are subject to the approval of the board
