Failed the interviews
Public Appointments Committee of Parliament has rejected the appointment of Ombudsman Martha Chizuma as the new Director General for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) after failing the interviews.
According to information at hand, Ombudsman Chizuma ‘successfully’ failed to convince members of the Public Appointment Committee (PAC) during the interviews which were conducted on Tuesday.
President Lazarus Chakwera appointed Ombudsman Chizuma as Director-General for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on 28 April.
Malawians have taken to social media expressing their dissatisfaction with the decision by Public Appointment Committee of Parliament to reject âlady of the peopleâ Martha Chizuma as Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Ombudsman Chizuma, appeared before PAC of Parliament for interviews following her appointment by President Lazarus Chakwera as Director General of the graft busting body.
However, PAC had something in mind contrary to the expectations of the general public as she has been turned down.
The development has not been welcomed by the populace who are expressing disappointment and disapproval of PACâs decision and questioning the credibility and integrity of the Committee.
Well known legal minds, Ralph Kasambala (SC) has told President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera to simply go “to the stands and fold his hands” as he watch stallholders embark on legal fight after people asked him for his legal opinion on the matter.
Writing on his Facebook Page, Kasambala, himself a former Attorney General and Justice Minister has urged the President not to listen to the Public Appointment Committee ( PAC) which has recommended to him to fire Commissioners Dr Jean Mathanga and Mrs Linda Kunje but refer the matter to the High Court for Judicial Review.
My simple answer is this:
The constitution shall reign supreme.
Reports emanating from Parliament indicates that the Public Appointment Committee (PAC) of parliament is currently sitting to recommend the firing of Malawi Electoral Commissioners Mrs. Jean Mathanga and Ms. Linda Kunje.
This comes on the background against legal opinion from the Attorney General to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and also Parliament own order of suspending parliament and committee meetings due to Covid.
President Chakwera through the Speaker of Parliament is forcing PAC to make a recommendation to him to fire the two Commissioners.
This move is unconstitutional and unlawful and the President need to be reminded that he swore to defend and protect the constitution.