Mzimba Council director drags govt to court over transfer
M’mbelwa District Council director of planning and development (DPD) Tamanya Harawa has obtained an injunction stopping government from transferring him to Nkhata Bay District Council.
The development has seen the council having two DPDs but the new director cannot access the office as Harawa is protected by an injunction.
Harawa on Wednesday refused to comment on the matter and referred the issue to his lawyer George Kadzipatike.
Kadzipatike said there is no vacancy in Nkhata Bay that Harawa can fill. He said there is already an official in Nkhata Bay and letting him go to there will only bring about confusion.
He also said government did not give proper reasons for transferring his client who has already been subjected to four transfers in the past five years.
The lawyer said frequent transfers affect families especially children who have to change schools.
“Decision makers have to always consider the family life of their employees. My client has been transferred for four times in five years. Such transfers affect families. Children’s education is heavily affected. The right to education is affected as they have to leave school and search for other schools where they have been transferred to.
“There is also no proper reason for transferring him. Where to there is no vacancy. There is already someone filling his post,” said Kadzipatike.
Mzimba district commissioner Thomas Chirwa did not pick up his phone when called for comment.
M’mbelwa District committee chairperson Fumu Mdolo accused Harawa of clinging to the office and wondered why he did not want to leave.Council development
He said the presence of two officials is affecting development since the new director cannot access the office and Harawa does not show up during working hours.
“Sometimes things go wrong because people stay in one place for too long. We don’t know why he is refusing to move. The development is very unfortunate,” said Mdolo.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development spokesperson Muhlabase Mughogho said she was yet to see the injunction and asked for more time to comment on the matter.
