Minister nullifies DC promotion
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Trasizio Gowelo has nullified the promotion of Chitipa acting district commissioner Grace Chirwa who refused to serve as chief administrative officer (Grade F) at Rumphi District Council.
The Nation has established that Gowelo on April 1 2015 met Chirwa and nullified her promotion reverting her to the Grade F task with immediate effect.
Former president Joyce Banda on October 22 2013 approved Chirwa’s promotion as substantive DC for Chitipa District following a request by the then minister of Local Government and Rural Development Rachael Mazombwe Zulu.
However, the Peter Mutharika administration reversed Banda’s decision which saw Chirwa obtain a court order stopping her demotion and subsequent transfer to Rumphi.
The injunction, granted by High Court Judge Dingiswayo Madise on February 19 2015, warned that anyone defying it shall be guilty of contempt of court and may be imprisoned, fined or have their assets seized.
Reads the injunction granted by Madise: “The decision to demote the applicant to the position of chief administrative officer and transfer her to Rumphi District Council is hereby stayed, and an order of injuction is hereby granted restraining the respondents, their agents, servants and whosoever, from demoting the applicant and sending her to Rumphi Distrcit Council.”
However, Gowelo, through the ministry’s principal secretary Kester Kaphaizi, summoned Chirwa to a discussion where she was served with a letter nullifying her promotion. The letter was issued by Kaphaizi on April 1 2015.
“There was no vacant post which you could be promoted to. There was no authorised establishment warrant and there was no provision for funds in the personal emoluments budget to service the post.
“You are further informed that you will, with immediate effect, revert to your substantive established post of chief administrative officer [Grade F], tenable at Rumphi District Council,” reads the letter seen by The Nation.
Chirwa’s mobile phone went unanswered yesterday whereas Gowelo and the ministry’s spokesperson Muhlabase Mughogho refused to comment on the matter until it is settled.
The ministry posted Rodney Simwaka to serve as DC for Chitipa. However, Simwaka could not operate as DC for the district with Chirwa in office.
Simwaka is currently lodging at Chitipa Inn waiting for the matter to be settled.
