Malawi ex-envoy in Dubai sues for K205bn
Brazilian woman Gilena Susana Seliman Fajar, who was engaged as Malawi’s consular general in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, is demanding $200 million (about K205 billion) in unpaid rentals and salaries since 2013.
Attorney General Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda in an interview on Monday confirmed the development, but said the envoy, who engaged by former president Joyce Banda in 2013, does not deserve the money.
He said: “The figure she has quoted [of $200 million] is not legitimate and that is why we are arguing that she is not entitled to any payment.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson John Kabaghe also confirmed the lawsuit, but said the Attorney General is better placed to comment.
But Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament chairperson Mark Botomani in an interview said they have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter.
He said they want the Attorney General to swiftly act so that taxpayers do not foot such a hefty bill.
Botomani said: “The issue came during the interface we had with Secretary for Foreign Affairs and were extremely outraged because Malawi is a small economy and cannot afford to pay such an astronomical figure to a person who is not even a native.
“So, we call upon the Attorney General to use every means possible to defend this lawsuit and also to get everyone who was involved in hiring this person to be held accountable because in our view, they did not do it in the best interest of the country.”
Political analyst Ernest Thindwa said he was surprised with the K205 billion legal suit, saying there is a need for the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the matter.
He said: “The ACB should follow the thread to bring domestic culprits to book because it looks like there is an element of fraud in the matter. Recruitment in public service should adhere to laid down procedures.”
In 2018, former Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Principal Secretary Isaac Munlo (deceased) told Parliament that Seliman Fajar was engaged by the Joyce Banda administration.
At that time, Munlo said his ministry was working on how to deal with the issue as that decision was made politically in the previous administration.
In an earlier interview, former diplomat John Chikago backed Seliman Fajar’s appointment, saying anyone can head the consulate office provided they promote Malawi through trade. “The consulate offices are a link to promotion of trade for a country, but a person who is supposed to be there is not necessarily a Malawian. As long as she is there to promote trade that is okay but being given a diplomatic passport that can be illegal,” he said.
