Immigration chief reported to OPC amid 15 allegations
Commissioner of immigration Stanlake Kalimanjira has penned the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) levelling 15 administrative misconduct allegations against Immigration Department’s director general Charles Kalumo.
The letter, under reference number IM/02/01 dated July 7 202/3/, says he authored it “on behalf of the concerned officers’.
They are seeking the suspension of the redeployment of 16 of f icers which he announced on 30 June this year, pending an enquiry into Kalumo’s conduct.
It alleges that among others, Kalumo has unprocedurally been granting foreigners citizenship, suspending workers without following due process, using obscene language against officers and failing to find a sustainable solution to passport issuance services.
Addressed to the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC), the letter names seven officers that were allegedly suspended or dismissed irregularly.
“Officers are sent home without being given a chance to explain and defend themselves; they are sent home by word of mouth of the Director General. The word of the Director General is law.
“The Director General facilitated the interdiction of Assistant Commissioner Saddock Malinda without following procedure, Sergeant Geoffrey Malikula was dismissed and ordered to surrender the uniform without being given a chance to defend himself.
“Senior Superintendent Oswald Mhango is home for doing his work professionally which irritated the Director General. Senior Superintendent Blackwell Lungu was suspended (but later recalled) by word of mouth.”
Kalumo is also accused of being insensitive to funeral traditions as he allegedly refuses to permit workers to attend burial of their workmates.
“Here is a director general who demands his officers to apply for leave when travelling to attend a funeral of a departed uniformed officer. Our memories are very fresh. A couple of weeks ago, the department lost Sergeant Lawrence Austin Kwapata.
“When officers from the Central Region sought approval from the Director General to travel to Mulanje to attend the funeral of the departed officer, he responded as follows: “apply for leave and I have to approve…. Otherwise, ameneyo wafa basi alibe ntchito”] the letter further reads.
The commissioner has since asked the OPC to suspend or redeploy redeployments of the officers until an enquiry is held, warning to take legal action if their request is ignored.
Meanwhile, OPC spokesperson Robert Kalindiza on Suturday said he would respond on Monday when he is expected to establish if the letter was submitted.
Kalumo had not responded to our questionnaire which we filed after failing to get hold of him through phone calls.
