|
|
|
|
| National |
| Diplomat challenges recall home,Diplomat challenges recall home |
|
by
Mc Donald Chapalapata,Mc Donald Chapalapata, 06 January 2004
-
16:49:04
|
Malawi’s High Commissioner to South Africa Gamaliel Bandawe has instructed his lawyers to challenge government’s decision to recall him from the diplomatic service with immediate effect.
Bandawe said from Pretoria, South Africa on Tuesday that he has instructed his lawyer Titus Mvalo of Mvalo & Company to challenge the decision because he has 27 more months in his contract to serve as high commissioner in South Africa.
“My contract has just been renewed for the next three years and barely nine months into the contract, I am told that it has been cancelled and that I should be going home. They did not give me any reason at all,” said Bandawe.
Bandawe said when he asked secretary for Foreign Affairs Benard Sande on why he was being recalled in the middle of his contract, Sande is alleged to have told him that he, too, was not aware of the reasons.
But Sande said in an interview on Tuesday that government provided a reason for Bandawe’s recall.
“We informed him that it on the exigencies of the service and this is a normal thing, whether one is in foreign service or civil service. Bandawe is an experienced civil servant and he should understand this,” said Sande.
But Bandawe insisted he found it abnormal that, other than the ‘exigencies of service’, there was no any other reason why he was been recalled.
“Why was I not be given an opportunity to be heard? I have to know the reason and that is why I am challenging the decision to recall me,” said Bandawe.
He said he will reflect on what to do when he comes back home.
Mvalo confirmed on Tuesday that he has received instructions from Bandawe and that he has already lodged a complaint to the office of the Ombudsman.
Bandawe, who first served as Malawi’s High Commissioner to Zambia in 1999 for two years before heading for South Africa, will be replaced by Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Michael Kamphambe Nkhoma.
Kamphambe confirmed on Tuesday the he would be going to South Africa to replace Bandawe but declined to comment whether his appointment would be viewed as a demotion.
Meanwhile, former Malawi High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Bright Msaka is now the new Deputy Secretary to the President and cabinet, according to Kamphambe Nkhoma.
“He has already started work and we are working together. We are both DSPC and special duties would be allocated to each one of us,” he said.
He was not sure whether government would still have two DSPCs when he leaves for South Africa.
Kamphambe Nkhoma said Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Alfred Upindi who officially retired on December 31, 2003, is still SPC until government appoints a new SPC.
Upindi said on Tuesday that Daudi Milanzi, who is Malawi’s Ambassador to Libya, will replace Msaka in the UK.
,Malawi’s High Commissioner to South Africa Gamaliel Bandawe has instructed his lawyers to challenge government’s decision to recall him from the diplomatic service with immediate effect.
Bandawe said from Pretoria, South Africa on Tuesday that he has instructed his lawyer Titus Mvalo of Mvalo & Company to challenge the decision because he has 27 more months in his contract to serve as high commissioner in South Africa.
“My contract has just been renewed for the next three years and barely nine months into the contract, I am told that it has been cancelled and that I should be going home. They did not give me any reason at all,” said Bandawe.
Bandawe said when he asked secretary for Foreign Affairs Benard Sande on why he was being recalled in the middle of his contract, Sande is alleged to have told him that he, too, was not aware of the reasons.
But Sande said in an interview on Tuesday that government provided a reason for Bandawe’s recall.
“We informed him that it on the exigencies of the service and this is a normal thing, whether one is in foreign service or civil service. Bandawe is an experienced civil servant and he should understand this,” said Sande.
But Bandawe insisted he found it abnormal that, other than the ‘exigencies of service’, there was no any other reason why he was been recalled.
“Why was I not be given an opportunity to be heard? I have to know the reason and that is why I am challenging the decision to recall me,” said Bandawe.
He said he will reflect on what to do when he comes back home.
Mvalo confirmed on Tuesday that he has received instructions from Bandawe and that he has already lodged a complaint to the office of the Ombudsman.
Bandawe, who first served as Malawi’s High Commissioner to Zambia in 1999 for two years before heading for South Africa, will be replaced by Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Michael Kamphambe Nkhoma.
Kamphambe confirmed on Tuesday the he would be going to South Africa to replace Bandawe but declined to comment whether his appointment would be viewed as a demotion.
Meanwhile, former Malawi High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Bright Msaka is now the new Deputy Secretary to the President and cabinet, according to Kamphambe Nkhoma.
“He has already started work and we are working together. We are both DSPC and special duties would be allocated to each one of us,” he said.
He was not sure whether government would still have two DSPCs when he leaves for South Africa.
Kamphambe Nkhoma said Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Alfred Upindi who officially retired on December 31, 2003, is still SPC until government appoints a new SPC.
Upindi said on Tuesday that Daudi Milanzi, who is Malawi’s Ambassador to Libya, will replace Msaka in the UK.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
