Editors PickNational News

Parliament hires new CoP

 

President Peter Mutharika has appointed Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs chief legislative counsel Fiona Kalemba as the new Clerk of Parliament (CoP) amid controversy that she was not the first among candidates interviewed by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).

Kalemba becomes the second female CoP since independence after Matilda Katopola who left office acrimoniously in 2012 and has since bagged herself about K70 million ($125,000) from the government as compensation for unfair dismissal.

The new CoP: Kalemba
The new CoP: Kalemba

Kalemba’s profile on LinkedIn indicates that her skills and expertise are in the areas of legislation, legislative research, legislative relations, policy analysis and legal research.

The PSC, chaired by Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, conducted interviews for the position of CoP last month following the retirement of acting CoP Roosevelt Gondwe, but the appointment has only been confirmed by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) through Parliament yesterday.

The two arms of government involved in the appointment — the Executive and the Legislature — have, however, remained mum on the issue.

Parliament spokesperson Leonard Mengezi yesterday confirmed Kalemba’s appointment as the new CoP, but refused to be drawn into the details of the appointment.

He said: “The PSC has mandated me to confirm that it is true that Mrs Fiona Kalemba is the new Clerk of Parliament. PSC has written her a letter of appointment, so we do not know when she will report for work.”

Chief Secretary to the Government George Mkondiwa referred the matter to Minister of Information, Tourism and Civic Education Jappie Mhango who also could not be drawn to comment on the appointment referring the issue to Parliament.

“The Clerk of Parliament is appointed by the Parliamentary Service Commission, it has nothing to do with the Executive. I may not know who has been appointed, but Parliament does,” Mhango said.

According to Section 55 of the Constitution and Section 16 of the Parliamentary Service Act, the CoP is responsible for managing operations of Parliament, providing procedural advice on parliamentary laws to committees among others.

While a CoP is appointed by the President following recommendations from the PSC, the officer works under the direction of the Speaker.

Section 16 of the Parliamentary Service Act says that a CoP shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the PSC.

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One Comment

  1. Congratulations Fiona! But if what we are hearing that you did not come first in the interview is true but some powers that be decided to bulldoze their interests, then its sad for both the nation and your career.

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