NAC boss sent on forced leave

Government has sent National Aids Commission (NAC) executive director Thomas Bisika on forced leave effective Monday, October 6 2014, to pave way for investigations, which government is yet to make public.

The NAC executive board, which met on Tuesday in Lilongwe, recommended the measure.

In an interview on Tuesday, Chief Secretary George Mkondiwa confirmed Bisika’s forced leave.

“We received communication from the NAC board that Bisika should be on a month-long leave. The reasons they gave are that he is being investigated on some issues in relation to his line of work and we thought it wise to suspend him until the investigations are over,” said Mkondiwa.

Bisika also confirmed in an interview that he received verbal communication from his superiors on the same.

“I was communicated to verbally that I have been suspended. It is very difficult for me to comment further until I get written communication,” said Bisika, who suggested that NAC board chairperson Mara Kumbweza Banda could shed more light on the issue.

But Kumbweza Banda declined to comment on the phone, demanding a questionnaire.

Reports from within NAC and government indicate that Miriam Mangochi, a former NAC employee currently at Ministry of Health, will replace Bisika in an interim capacity until his fate is decided.

Former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika appointed Bisika as executive director in September 2010.

Before joining NAC, Bisika worked as health system adviser to the World Health Organisation (WHO) based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Bisika also worked as programme specialist for the United Nations Population Fund.