Civil servant duplicates roles

Head teacher at Minga Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Lilongwe, Misheck Khumba Muhanji, is doubling as a councillor, a political position he contested for in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections on Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ticket, The Nation has established.
The revelation came last week during an interface meeting the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust held in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chadza’s area in Lilongwe Msozi-North Constituency.
Lilongwe Nice district civic education officer (responsible for rural areas) Daniel Malango said Nice invited political leaders to a consultative meeting where people complained that the councillor is not assisting them because he is preoccupied with teaching.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Muhanji confirmed that he is working as a teacher as well as serving as a councillor.
However, he was quick to point out that he is working as a councillor on voluntary basis.
Said Muhanji, “Yes, I am working as a head teacher at the school and I am also a councillor on voluntary basis because the position is not political.”
Lilongwe district commissioner (DC) Charles Makanga said he is not aware of the issue as pledged to investigate the matter.
Said the DC: “Mr. Muhanji was supposed to resign before contesting for the position of councillor as it is political in nature.”
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) acting spokesperson Manfred Ndovi also expressed ignorance that a head teacher is doubling as councillor, saying his ministry will investigate.
The development means that Muhanji has been receiving double pay as he draws a salary from MoEST and monthly allowances of at least K80 000 (US$178) as a councillor. Drawing two salaries from public coffers is against the laws of Malawi.