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After being rejected for appointment as high commissioner to London in the United Kingdom, Agrinna Mussa, wife to Public Works and Transport minister, Henry Mussa, would soon wing her way to Washington in the USA as deputy ambassador.
About six months ago Public Appointments Committee rejected her appointment to UK on grounds that she was under-qualified.
Foreign Affairs Minister Davis Katsonga disclosed in a recent interview that Mussa would be leaving shortly for Washington to take up her new post.
Without mincing words Katsonga said Mussa would not go through interviews as was the case previously since she is not being posted on full ambassadorial level.
“After consultation we saw that she could still be appointed deputy ambassador and there is nothing wrong with that constitutionally. She will not be required to go through interviews because [Pac] do not screen appointees below the rank of ambassador or High Commissioner,” said Katsonga.
But Chapter 20 section 190 of the Constitution says: “Ambassadors, High Commissioners and such other principal diplomatic staff as shall be determined by an Act of Parliament shall be appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Public Appointments Committee which may require persons so appointed to answer questions as to their competence and financial probity.
Pac chairperson Joseph Njobvuyalema said he had no knowledge about her new appointment.
He also refuted Katsonga’s assertions that Mussa was by law not required to go through parliamentary interviews.
“Although that section does not define if a deputy ambassador or high commissioner is a principle diplomatic officer, experience and practice have shown that even deputies are interviewed.
“We were [recently] surprised when we received a letter from OPC asking why we also interview deputy ambassadors,” said Njobvuyalema.
Mutharika appointed Mussa as high commissioner to the UK in September but Pac shot down the appointment. Former Chancellor College Principal Francis Moto who initially was appointed to Washington took Mussa’s place instead.
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