Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board executive director Prince Phwetekere has for the second time refused to be seconded from the institution to Domasi College of Education in Zomba.
Through an October 24 2025 letter, Chief Secretary to the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) Justin Saidi wrote to Phwetekere about the secondment.
However, Phwetekere, in a letter dated November 6, argued that he was no longer a civil servant because OPC approved his voluntary retirement from the civil service effective from February 24 2023.
He argued that all processes were completed and that the reasons for his retirement still stand while his current employment at the board is a five-year contract effective March 1 2023.
But in another communication dated November 12, Saidi informed Phwetekere that as an employee of a board, which is a public body, he is a public officer.
Reads Saidi’s letter: “Therefore, the terms and conditions of your employment in the public service is not only regulated by your employment contract, but is also largely governed by the Public Service Act and other legal instruments including the Public Service Act (1994), the Malawi Public Service Regulations (2000) and administrative circulars that are issued by Government from time to time.”
But in a response dated November 24, Phwetekere maintained that his employment is governed by the Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board Act, terms of his contract and also the staff terms and conditions made by the board.
He said: “These instruments do not envisage, nor do they provide for, the purported secondment referred to in your letter, and/or any deployment whatsoever outside the board.
Pwetekere was redeployed along with other heads of State enterprises, notably the country’s five water boards, Electricity Generation Company Limited and Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi who have been assigned to various public universities
