The Malawi Government has released two public relations statements in a bid to save face following the resignation of National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) acting Chief Executive Officer Helen Buluma who has made corruption allegations against officials in the Lazarus Chakwera administration.
Buluma who was also NOCMA’s deputy chief executive officer authored a resignation letter dated 14 November, 2022.
In the letter, she has accused Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) politicians of influencing fuel supply contracts so that the contracts should be awarded to companies associated with the MCP.
The resignation has left government scrambling to save its face.
In a letter dated 15 November, Zamba, who is also chairperson of NOCMA, has fired Buluma saying NOCMA board is complying with a determination by the Ombudsman who found that Buluma’s appointment as NOCMA deputy CEO was irregular.
After the Ombudsman’s ruling, Zamba earlier this month defended Buluma and said she would not be fired. However, in the dismissal letter, Zamba claims that the decision to comply with the Ombudsman’s ruling to fire Buluma has been made following consultations with the Attorney General.
“Consequently I regret to inform you that you have been relieved from your duties, effective immediately in compliance with the Ombudsman’s determination,” reads part of the letter.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information has released a statement today claiming that Buluma’s resignation letter is misleading.
According to the Ministry, Buluma was already fired before her resignation letter started circulating on social media.
“Her letter of resignation which she is circulating on social media platforms has come after this relief from her responsibilities and has never been submitted to the Office of the President and Cabinet,” reads part of the statement.
