Malga protests DCs transfers

Malawi Local Government Association (Malga) has protested against transfers of some district commissioners (DCs) and accused central government of making unilateral decisions by sidelining both the councils and the association.

During a news conference in Blantyre on Monday, Malga president Davie Maunde said the association will sue Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba if the changes are not reversed.

He said the decision by the Office of the President and Cabinet to redeploy about 10 DCs and two chief executive officers to central government is unlawful and unprocedural.

Maunde, who is Zomba City Mayor, said at its 16th Annual General Assembly Malga resolved that no DC or chief executive officer should be transferred without the consent of the concerned councils.

He said: “There is no provision in the Constitution or Local Government Act that empowers the Office of the President and Cabinet and or any authority even the Minister of Local Government to redeploy a district commissioner or chief executive officer to the central government.

“We, therefore, wonder where the Secretary to the President and Cabinet got the powers to redeploy the district commissioners and chief executive officers. We, therefore, find this action irregular, unprocedural, unconstitutional and a clear violation of the principles of devolution.”

Section 11 (4) of the Local Government Act provides that the Minister of Local Government may transfer a district commissioner and or chief executive officer from one council to another in consultation with the Local Government Services Commission.

Malga executive director Hadrod Mkandawire observed that moving DCs and chief executive officers frequently affects the continuity of development projects in the affected councils.

On her part, Malga vice-president Akima Chipwatali said the association believes that the transfers are political.

“Why didn’t the OPC give reasons for these transfers? Surprisingly, the association and Local Government Service Commission were not copied on these redeployments,” she said.

Communication we have seen shows that the affected DCs are from Chikwawa, Nsanje, Blantyre, Neno, Mwanza, Mangochi, Dedza, Ntchisi, Nkhata Bay and Karonga district councils while the chief executive officers are for Kasungu and Luchenza municipal councils.

Zamba and Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda were not available on Monday for immediate comment on Malga’s intentions.