The Ministry’s Spokesperson, Anjoya Mwanza, says the best way to deal with incompetence is through discipline, adding that just like other councils, Nsanje district council should engage in building and developing skills of each employee unlike looking for finished products.

“Basically, the Ministry of Local Government cannot discipline or relocate officers below the position of District Commissioners, it is the responsibility of councils in liaison with the Local Government Service Committee,” explained Mwanza.

She added, “We are also not supposed to micromanage the councils. We are responsible for policy direction. It is our expectation therefore that the human resources section of Nsanje district council should be handling these issues,” said Mwanza.

The council’s Vice Chairperson, Mike Kafalachi, told Zodiak Online that they have advised their secretariat to write to the Ministry of Local Government on the issue in question.                                             

“It is our expectation that the remaining officers; District Sports Officer, Sheriff Malunga and Michael Chanza, National Registration Bureau (NRB) officer, would be transferred since the Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, Blessings Kantema, has already been moved to Balaka.

“Our stand is irreversible if nothing happens we will raise the issue at another full council meeting but I assure you, these people will go soon,” said Kafalachi.

The resolution in question was passed at a full council meeting early last month.

The council members cited various allegations including decommissioning of camps and distribution of relief items without the knowledge of council members but also providing a questionable number of beneficiaries to World Food Program (WFP) for its cash transfer program, arguing some camps had more people as opposed to those submitted in their report.

Malunga and Chanza earlier declined to comment on the allegations saying the disaster officer was better placed to speak since they were working under his office.

However, Kantema told us that he was innocent, saying he executed his duties within the dictates of humanitarian principles.