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Malawi Parliament defers Auditor General’s confirmation

 Malawi Parliament on Wednesday deferred the confirmation of Auditor General (AG) designate Anderson Kulugomba until government sorts out outstanding administrative issues with the previous office holder, Reckford Kampanje.

Standing after Minister of Finance Ken Lipenga had presented Kulugomba’s academic credentials and professional experience, Chiradzulu East MP Henry Mussa (DPP) argued that in as far as Parliament is concerned, there is no vacancy in the office of the AG since Kampanje was still waiting to be formally retired.

Mussa said, among several other issues, the nation was told that Kampanje is on leave pending retirement, government is yet to pay him his retirement package and that the AG is still using a government vehicle.

“We cannot have two Auditor Generals in the same office. All I am asking is for government to conclude the retirement of the incumbent or it would be unconstitutional for us to proceed,” said Mussa, a member of Parliament’s Public Appointment and Declaration of Assets Committee.

Kulugomba’s name was seconded by Lilongwe Msozi South MP Vitus Dzoole-Mwale (MCP).

However, Mussa was supported by Lilongwe Mapuyu MP Joseph Njobvuyalema (MCP) who asked government to withdraw the confirmation process and sort out all the administrative matters before bringing the matter to Parliament again.

Njobvuyalema stressed the House was not necessarily rejecting the appointment of Kulugomba as the National Assembly understands the importance of the position.

Leader of the House Henry Phoya, who is also Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, said government has evidence, through a letter from Kampanje, that the former AG was formally retired and was paid his retirement package.

But when pressed to read the letter in the House, Phoya said there is need to seek consent from Kampanje if his letter can be read to the whole House.

Phoya asked for deferment of the process.

Born in 1957, Kulugomba, currently managing director of Nedbank (Malawi) Limited, holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Derby in the United Kingdom. He is also a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants as well as a Certified Public Accountant-Malawi.

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