UNAids observing situation at NAC

UNAids country director Amakobe Sande has said her organisation is worried about destabilising developments taking place at the National Aids Commission (NAC).
The comment follows NAC board’s decision to send the commission’s executive director   Thomas Bisika on forced leave pending investigations for alleged nepotism and financial abuse.

 
But in an interview with Weekend Nation, Sande said governance and accountability issues taking place at the organisation that deal with HIV and Aids response should not dent Malawi’s reputation.
“We are keenly observing the current status at the commission,” said Sande
In her e-mail response, Sande said as the fight against HIV is now at critical stage internationally and that global leaders have agreed to end the spread of the disease by 2030, Malawi needed a strong leadership for its HIV response considering that the country has been an internationally recognised trend setter.

 
She, therefore, called on government to resolve the leadership challenges at NAC amicably and quickly to avoid stalling a number of processes at the institution.
According   to information Weekend Nation has, NAC board on September 26 2014, summoned Bisika over complaints levelled against him.
The source further said, NAC board chairperson Mara Kumbweza Banda,  in addressing staff on the administrative challenges the organisation is facing,  said the commission was not doing well because most top position at the institution were held in an acting capacity.

 
She, however, asked the members of staff to support Dave Kalomba, acting executive director although she said the acting executive director was navigating in dangerous waters.
In an interview, Bisika confirmed that he is on 30 day-leave waiting for the results of the investigations.