Ngalande, Malata nominated for AU Commission post
Former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) governor Elias Ngalande and Malawi University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor Address Malata have been nominated for two prestigious positions at the African Union Commission (AUC).
Ngalande is vying for the position of Commissioner of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, Industry and Minerals while Malata has been nominated for the post of Commissioner of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (EST).
They both competed in their respective positions against 6 other candidates from Burundi, Benin, South Africa, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique following the close of the nomination process for senior leadership of the Commission on August 6 2024.
A statement dated August 7 2024 from the AUC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and addressed to the permanent missions of the deans of the Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western regions, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the nominations ahead of the election scheduled for February 2025.
It said the submissions which have been made for 6 positions of commissioners will be forwarded to the High-level Panel of Eminent Africans for the assessment process to start.
Reads the statement in part: “The panel, assisted by an independent African firm, will first conduct an initial review of applications and curricula vitae and then shortlisted candidates will be invited for further assessment based on the skills and competency criteria.”
Other positions include that of chairperson, deputy chairperson, Commissioner Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development (ARBE), Commissioner of Political Affairs , Peace and Security, Commissioner of Infrastructure and Energy and Commissioner of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS).
The AUC, which is composed of the chairperson and commissioners, is the AU’s secretariat and undertakes the day to day activities of the union including representing the union and defending its interests under the guidance of the assembly and the executive council.
