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JB hires Kalemba as new DPP

Malawi President Joyce Banda on Tuesday appointed chief legal aid advocate Bruno Kalemba as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), replacing Rosemary Kanyuka.

Ministry of Justice principal secretary and solicitor general Anthony Kamanga confirmed the appointment in an interview. He said Kanyuka, who has served as DPP for the past three years, has been assigned to other duties.

“His appointment is with effect from May 17, but subject to confirmation by the Public Appointments Committee [of Parliament],” Kamanga said.

Kalemba’s appointment is among the several major shake-ups in the civil service since Banda was sworn in as President on April 7 2012 after the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika.

Kalemba, who joined the Ministry of Justice in 1995 as a State advocate straight from law school at Chancellor College—a constituent college of the University of Malawi, described his appointment as a big challenge.

Said the new DPP: “I received my letter of appointment an hour ago [at 3 pm] which was signed by Chief Secretary to Government Bright Msaka. Being in the public service, I hope I will meet the expectations. I know I still have to appear before the Public Appointments Committee [of Parliament] for confirmation.”

Kanyuka also confirmed receiving a letter of termination of her services as DPP on Tuesday, but said she had no information on her next duty station.

Said Kanyuka: “I guess to everything there is a season. My season as DPP is over and I will wait to see what my next season is. I will be redeployed I’m sure, but I wish Mr. Kalemba well.”

Section 101 of the Constitution reads: “Appointment to the office of Director of Public Prosecutions shall be made by the President and confirmed by the Public Appointments Committee subject to satisfying requirement as to competence of the capacity of the person so appointed to perform duties of that office and as to capacity of a person so appointed to pursue prosecutions independently.”

In December 2010, Mutharika appointed Kanyuka as the first female DPP. She was the third top prosecutor to serve in Mutharika’s government.

She was confirmed on January 27 2011, replacing Wezzie Kayira after he was reassigned to the Ministry of Labour as Principal Secretary.

PAC confirmed Kayira on December 6 2006, replacing Ishmael Wadi who was ordered by Mutharika on August 10 2006 to resign within 24 hours.

The forced resignation allegedly was for destroying the image of government by not consulting the President when Wadi decided to discontinue a case against former president Bakili Muluzi.

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