The Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) has suspended its director general Elias Hausi and his deputy Ireen Mlewa with immediate effect.
The PPDA said in a statement that assistant director (Regulatory and Review Department) Timothy Kalembo has since been appointed as acting director general.
In a statement issued yesterday signed by PPDA public relations officer Grace Thipa, the authority said Kalembo’s appointment was effective December 24 and in line with Section 14(1) of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Asset Act 2017.
Reads the statement: “The chairman and the board of directors of the PPDA hereby give notice to all the government ministries, departments and agencies, the private sector, cooperating partners and the public that the director general, Mr.Ellias Hausi and deputy director general, Mrs. Ireen Mlewa, have been suspended with immediate effect.”
In an interview yesterday, Hausi confirmed his suspension and that of his deputy.
While referring us to PPDA board of directors chairperson John Suzi-Banda for the reasons for the suspensions, he said normally suspensions are effected to pave the way for investigations.
Hausi said: “I received the suspension notice on Monday, 28th December, but I haven’t even had time to carefully go through it.”
Suzi-Banda said the statement from PPDA contained details on the subject at hand.
The suspension of Hausi and Mlewa comes days after Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) board suspended its director general Henry Shamu and Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) board also suspended chief executive officer Eunice Napolo, company secretary Bob Chimkango, chief operatoions officer Lesley Makawa and project manager David Kwanjana.
Since President Lazarus Chakwera appointed boards of statutory corporations on September 23 2020, there have been shake-ups in different parastatals where senior officials have been suspended.
