Malawi Parliament rejects Kulugomba as AG

Malawi Parliament on Friday wound up its meeting with the rejection of Anderson Kulugomba as the country’s new Auditor General (AG).

After heated debate on Kulugomba’s confirmation, members of Parliament cast a secret vote which saw only 64 MPs voting for his confirmation whereas 87 MPs rejected him. There were four null and void votes whereas other four MPs abstained from voting.

Said Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda when announcing results of the vote: “The interpretation of the results is that the National Assembly has rejected the confirmation of the Auditor General.”

Before voting, Ntcheu Bwanje North MP Steven Kamwendo said Kulugomba had extensive experience in banking and not auditing, saying he worked as auditor at some organisation for about one year only.

Kamwendo said the law requires that the person who is appointed to be the country’s Auditor General should have extensive experience in auditing.

Balaka South MP George Nnesa supported Kulugomba’s appointment, but expressed concerns over the President being the appointing authority for the post, saying the position is supposed to be advertised so that qualified persons can compete for it.

After rejection of Kulugomba’s confirmation, Chimunthu Banda announced that the next meeting of the House would be in February 2013 when members are expected to, among others, meet for the 2012/13 national budget mid-year review.