Nkhotakota residents want DC, three others out

Nkhotakota district commissioner (DC) Felix Mkandawire’s days at the district council may be numbered if residents who are baying for his blood over alleged office abuse, corruption and arrogance have their way.

The allegations against Mkandawire also include three other individuals, namely, lands officer Lester Ngosi, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwansambo and an officer in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), James Chavinda.

Among others, the residents accuse Mkandawire and his colleagues of abusing public funds amounting to K46 million meant for development projects through the Local Development Fund (LDF) by employing ghost workers and allocating allowances for events that never took place.

The quartet is also said to be depriving hundreds of small-scale farmers of their land through deals involving big investors.

Speaking during a news conference held on Monday in Lilongwe, the residents, through their representatives, attributed their anger to the 2014/15 audit report on the council which they have in their possession.

One of the residents, Father Kayamba, said they have tried to engage the DC in dialogue, but were dismissed the last time they sought an audience with him.

Said Kayamba: “He actually chased us out of the council premises when we went to deliver our petition. We hope government will look into the matter with a sober mind and hear us out.”

But in a telephone on Tuesday, Mkandawire dismissed the allegations, describing them as a ploy to tarnish his image. He blamed the media for negative publicity.

But when it was put to him that The Nation had seen a copy of the audit report implicating him, Mkandawire changed tune, saying: “What? You have a copy of the report? Actually, I cannot comment on that as I was not consulted on the report.”

Mkandawire says he has been Nkhotakota DC since March this year, contrary to reports that he reported there in January.n