PETER MOVES JB’S SISTER
President Peter Mutharika has removed his predecessor Joyce Banda’s sister, Anjimile Mtila-Oponyo, from the position of principal secretary for Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
Mtila-Oponyo, who has since been replaced by Thokozile Banda, has been moved to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) where her new role is yet to be spelt out.
According to a letter dated August 27 2014 seen by The Nation and signed by the then acting chief secretary to the government Willie Samute addressed to Mtila-Oponyo, her posting is with immediate effect.
Reads the letter in part: “The exigencies of the service require your immediate posting from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to the Office of President and Cabinet.”
In the letter, Mtila-Oponyo was also asked to wind up her affairs at the ministry and arrange to report for duties at OPC immediately.
And in the letter to Thokozile Banda, the OPC congratulated her on the promotion from deputy director of inspectorate at the ministry to principal secretary responsible for (secondary and basic education) effective August 22 this year.
Before her appointment as PS on November 12 2012 Mtila-Oponyo worked with the World Bank and also run pop star Madonna’s Raising Malawi Girls Academy project in Lilongwe.
She never worked for the World Bank.
Apparently, her record at Madonna’s charity had mixed results. There might even have been some malfeasance.
In any case, Ms. Mtila-Oponyo should embrace change, and make the best of her new situation. Change is the new constant, even for professionals; to avoid getting into a rut! Nobody is irreplaceable. Just look at the graveyards.