Nocma suspends 3 over Buluma security
National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) has suspended three officials on suspicion that they leaked information which exposed the bloated security detail of the company’s deputy chief executive officer Hellen Buluma.
The suspended officials are security officer Peter Chilenje, financial accountant Mavuto Ndalahoma and office assistant Paul Lapozo.
In one of the suspension letters signed by human resources and administration manager Prescott Nkhata, the company said the suspension is based on “gross misconduct relating to unauthorised disclosure of confidential official documents to unauthorised parties”.
Reads the letter: “During the time that you are on suspension you are not allowed to come to the office and/or transact on any Nocma business until you are advised otherwise. Kindly surrender all company property in your possession.”
The suspensions follow revelations published in our sister newspaper, Weekend Nation of October 23 2021 that public funds in excess of K3.9 million monthly were used for Buluma’s extra security comprising five police officers. The holder of the position
of Nocma deputy CEO is only entitled to one security guard during the day and two guards at night.
The suspended officers were also asked to submit their mobile phone details.
In an interview, one of the suspended officers said: “I can confirm that I have received the suspension letter and they also asked me to submit my IMEI [phone details] which they said would be used to search for information
on who I was talking to. I find the decision quite unfair because I have no idea how the information got out.”
Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter chairperson Teresa Ndanga in an interview last evening said Buluma should understand that she is a public officer who must be willing to provide information.
She said: “We know that the deputy CEO has been calling the reporter to stop him from writing the story. She works in the public sector and, therefore, she must be accountable to the people and the journalists can write a story about any public officer.
“They should not be attacking the journalists instead they must do what is right.”
Following the revelations, Nocma has come under criticism.
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition has written the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the issue.
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives has also asked Nocma board chairperson Zanga- Zanga Chikhosi, who is also Secretary to the President and Cabinet, to provide a copy of the contract and conditions of service for the deputy CEO.
