Council staff worried over having two DCs

Some members of staff at Machinga District Council have expressed worry over the council having two district commissioners (DCs), saying it negatively affects service delivery.

Machinga has since March been operating with two DCs after Stuart Ngoka obtained a court injunction, restraining government from transferring him to Ministry of Local Government headquarters in Lilongwe.

The other DC is Reignhard Chavula.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), some members of staff, who opted for anonymity, said they do not want Ngoka whom they accused of clinging to the position.

But when contacted on the matter, Ngoka said he had no knowledge that Machinga has another DC apart from him.

“I have been DC and I’m still DC for Machinga,” he said.

He, however, said he received posting instruction to become acting deputy director for rural development (Grade P4) while he holds a more senior position at Grade P3.

“I obtained a court injunction, which restrains the ministry or the Principal Secretary for Local Government or any of their agents from posting me away. I will not leave Machinga unless the court says so,” said Ngoka.

He added that what the ministry was doing by bringing in another DC was in contempt of court.

Ngoka has been DC for the district since April 2013 while Chavula is one of the eight female DCs promoted by former president Joyce Banda’s administration this year.—Mana