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| National |
| Malewezi staff sent on leave,Malewezi staff sent on leave |
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by
Gedion Munthali,Gedion Munthali, 13 January 2004
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17:31:47
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Government has with immediate effect sent on mandatory leave all members of staff in the office of the First Vice President Justin Malewezi, save for drivers and house keeping staff.
“As I am speaking to you now, I am on leave,” said Malewezi’s special assistant responsible for the media Madalitso Kuyela on Tuesday as he confirmed the development.
Kuyela said all concerned members of staff were informed on Tuesday in the morning by principal secretary (PS) in Malewezi’s office Charles Msosa that we should with immediate effect go on mandatory.
“The PS called all of us in the morning to the boardroom where he told us that he had been verbally instructed by OPC (Office of the President and Cabinet) that all of us must with immediate effect go on mandatory leave,” said Kuyela. “There were no reasons given,”
“But drivers and housekeeping staff will remain in place,” said Kuyela. “He is still vice president and even if he retires he will still be entitled to some of these benefits.”
Malewezi confirmed to have been told by his PS that his staff have been sent on mandatory leave. He however said he would come up with a decision on how he should react to the development once the details for the instructions have been furnished.
When contacted on Tuesday for comment on the issue Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Michael Kamphambe Nkhoma said: “I am sorry, I am not giving interviews to anybody.”
Attorney General Peter Fachi told MBC radio that Malewezi “was courting confrontation” by remaining in office instead of opting for retirement.
“We wrote him a letter in January 3, 2003, asking him to retire and he has not responded,” said Fachi. “We put it to him that even if he retires early he will still be given his benefits.”
Malewezi could not comment on Fachi’s remarks as his phone went unanswered. But Malawi Law Society spokesman Charles Mhango said government does not have any legal basis to force Malewezi to retire.
He argued that the tenure of the first vice president, like the one of the president, is secured under the constitution and “ his removal must follow the constitution, not common sense.”
“By trying to force him to retire government is trying to impeach him through the backdoor. This can not be allowed in a democratic system where respect for the rule of law is one of the cardinal tenets,” said Mhango.
,Government has with immediate effect sent on mandatory leave all members of staff in the office of the First Vice President Justin Malewezi, save for drivers and house keeping staff.
“As I am speaking to you now, I am on leave,” said Malewezi’s special assistant responsible for the media Madalitso Kuyela on Tuesday as he confirmed the development.
Kuyela said all concerned members of staff were informed on Tuesday in the morning by principal secretary (PS) in Malewezi’s office Charles Msosa that we should with immediate effect go on mandatory.
“The PS called all of us in the morning to the boardroom where he told us that he had been verbally instructed by OPC (Office of the President and Cabinet) that all of us must with immediate effect go on mandatory leave,” said Kuyela. “There were no reasons given,”
“But drivers and housekeeping staff will remain in place,” said Kuyela. “He is still vice president and even if he retires he will still be entitled to some of these benefits.”
Malewezi confirmed to have been told by his PS that his staff have been sent on mandatory leave. He however said he would come up with a decision on how he should react to the development once the details for the instructions have been furnished.
When contacted on Tuesday for comment on the issue Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Michael Kamphambe Nkhoma said: “I am sorry, I am not giving interviews to anybody.”
Attorney General Peter Fachi told MBC radio that Malewezi “was courting confrontation” by remaining in office instead of opting for retirement.
“We wrote him a letter in January 3, 2003, asking him to retire and he has not responded,” said Fachi. “We put it to him that even if he retires early he will still be given his benefits.”
Malewezi could not comment on Fachi’s remarks as his phone went unanswered. But Malawi Law Society spokesman Charles Mhango said government does not have any legal basis to force Malewezi to retire.
He argued that the tenure of the first vice president, like the one of the president, is secured under the constitution and “ his removal must follow the constitution, not common sense.”
“By trying to force him to retire government is trying to impeach him through the backdoor. This can not be allowed in a democratic system where respect for the rule of law is one of the cardinal tenets,” said Mhango.
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