Mpinganjira resigned from civil service

People’s Party (PP) parliamentary candidate for Blantyre City Central Constituency Chipiliro Mpinganjira resigned from his post as assistant administrator general.

Mpinganjira wrote the administrator general Richard Santhe on February 3 2014, tendering his resignation.

Reads the letter in part: “Reference is made to my letters of 26th November 2013 and 14th September 2012 addressed to your office. In the past two years, I have indicated my wish to resign and pursue a political career, as evidenced by the said communication. I now resign from the post of assistant administrator general [grade F] with immediate effect.” wrote Mpinganjira.

His candidature and those of others was in the spotlight since public servants are not supposed to indulge in political activities.

Meanwhile, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has reiterated that presidential advisers are not public servants; hence, its decision to allow them to stand in the forthcoming tripartite elections.

MEC was reacting to the story in The Nation of March 6 2014 which questioned its double standards by disqualifying opposition members Professor John Chisi and Dr Jessie Kabwila for being public servants while allowing presidential advisers to stand.

“The commission obtained a legal opinion in which it was advised that presidential aides or assistants are not public servants owing to the fact that their positions are not established by any legislation,” said director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa.

However, labour law lecturer at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College Mauya Msuku challenged MEC’s view, arguing that as long as they (presidential advisers) draw monthly salary from the public purse, they are public servants.