Ombudsman to challenge Mera injunction

The Office of the Ombudsman will challenge an injunction Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) obtained to stop the release of an investigative report into the recruitment of Henry Kachaje as chief executive officer.

In an interview yesterday, Ombudsman Grace Malera said that after studying the court order and making consultations, they decided to file a challenge “as soon as possible”.

She said: “Our position is that we will proceed to approach the courts to apply for the vacation of the order of injunction and the stay order.”

Mera obtained the injunction on Wednesday and it was served on the Ombudsman almost 10 minutes into her presentation of the report.

But the report titled ‘Curbing Impunity’ had already gone viral on social media.

The Ombudsman’s determination nullified the appointment of Kachaje as Mera chief executive officer on the basis that procedures were flouted.

The Ombudsman determination further reveals that the purported masters degree, which was produced later after the interview was from an institution that is not accredited.

In its submission in support of the application for the injunction, Mera insisted that Kachaje was the right candidate for the post because he came out top in the interviews and that he had necessary qualifications, which include the contested master’s degree.

The Ombudsman’s investigation into the matter was ignited by three separate complaints from Richard Chapweteka, one of the applicants for the post who had also been interviewed, the Forum for National Development and Public Appointments Committee of Parliament.

Malera was one of the applicants for the post and her role has been questioned for possible conflict of interest.

But in her defence, she said the complaint was registered before she assumed the office of Ombudsman.

Mean while , the Human Rights Defenders Coalition has written the office of the Ombudsman to investigate all chief executive officers/ heads of parastatals that have been appointed since the Tonse Alliance government took over