Senior Chief against transfer of Mchinji DC

Senior Chief Mlonyeni of Mchinji says he is against the transfer of district commissioner (DC) Peter Jimusole and three other council officials.

Recently, there have been calls from a group of concerned citizens dubbed Mchinji Social Economic Citizens Alliance demanding the immediate transfer of Jimusole and three other officials, accusing them of failing to address alleged corruption at the council.

The group claims the council secretariat failed to respond to the allegations that some officers illegally sold public land and also misappropriated some funds at the council as revealed in the audit report of 2019.

But in an interview yesterday, the chief said they do not recognise the group.

“The DC has stayed in office for less than a month and as chiefs, we have not seen anything wrong with him,” said Mlonyeni.

On Saturday, the group’s executive director Lawrence Chikhasu told journalists that the 2019 audit report revealed that K68 million meant for Decent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme (Dahsp), popularly known as Malata and Cement Subsidy, went missing in 2015, but nobody has been arrested.

The group threatened to shut down council offices if their demands are not met within 14 days.

But Jimusole said the audit report indicates that the money was borrowed by council’s sectors.

“The group is demanding the arrest of the officials, but the audit report cleared them,” he said.

On the 14 days ultimatum, the DC said he was not aware as the group did not present a letter to his office.

Mchinji District Council chairperson YonaMtanga said they will hold a full council meeting tomorrow to hear the group’s grievances.