Immigration interdicts 2 over recruitment
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has interdicted two senior officers for allegedly influencing the recruitment of unqualified immigration assistants in 2018.
The affected officers are commissioner responsible for administration Pudensiana Makalamba and head of training Chandiwira Chidothi.
In an interview yesterday, Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services national spokesperson Pasqually Zulu confirmed the interdiction of the two, but could not give more details.
He said: “Yes, the two officers are on interdiction, but to be honest with you, I am yet to be furnished with full details on the matter. When I get the details, I will come back to you.”
But sources within the department claimed that Makalamba and Chidothi were interdicted following the alleged key role they played in 2018 during the recruitment of 127 people as immigration assistants alleged to be unqualified for the job.
Efforts to get the two’s side of the story proved futile as Makalamba referred to her lawyers, saying they are better placed to comment while Chidothi could not pick up his phone on several attempts.
In a statement dated May 5 2022, signed by ACB principal public relations officer Egrita Ndala, the bureau said on April 30 2018 it received a complaint alleging that the department had recruited 210 immigration assistants.
The statement said ACB investigations established that the Department of Immigration had recruited 127 people as immigration assistants although they did not have the necessary qualifications.
The statement further indicated that the six were likely to be charged with abuse of office, in line with Section 25 B(1), as read with Section 34, of the Corrupt Practices Act.
The interdictions come about three months after ACB arrested the two alongside former minister of Homeland Security Cecilia Chazama, former Immigration director general Masauko Medi, regional officer Limbani Chawinga as well as former Department of Human Resource Management and Development principal secretary Hilario Chimota.
