NGO Board chair to head RA

Chairperson of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Board of Malawi Emily Banda has been appointed to the board of the Roads Authority (RA), but her board members of civil society organisations are not aware of the development.

The NGO Board is a statutory body whose mandate is to ensure that NGOs and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Malawi function to the maximum benefit of Malawians while creating a conducive environment for their operations.

Banda, who is also vying for a parliamentary seat in Dowa on the ruling People’s Party (PP) ticket, could not be reached on her phone to confirm the appointment, but she has since reported for duties in her new position.

On Christmas Day, she updated her Facebook page, stating: “I wish all road users a Merry Christmas. Remember to report all washed away bridges and roads for your safety. Chairperson, Roads Authority.”

Banda’s position has been met with resistance from among her own ranks who have called for her resignation following her new appointment.

But her vice-chairperson at the NGO Board, Unandi Banda, who pleaded ignorance of the chairperson’s new appointment, said holding dual statutory body leadership was something that used to happen in the pre-multiparty era.

“As a board, we are yet to get clear information and instruction from the Office of the President and Cabinet under which the board falls and it is only after we hear more that we will be able to act,” he said.

On the appointment of Banda to head two statutory bodies, Office of the President and Cabinet Chief Secretary HawaNdilowe pushed the matter to spokesperson Arthur Chipenda.

Banda was appointed to the NGO Board after civil society members proposed names. Other members include Dr. Mustafa Hussein, Dr Nandin Patel and EmmieChanika.

Banda was the first board chairperson since the NGO Act was put in place in 2001 and she took on unregistered NGOs in the country threatening their closure.n