Details have emerged that the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) blows K1.2 billion on rentals per annum in Lilongwe while only K60 million only when operating from Blantyre.
All well meaning Malawians working for MEC are ready to relocate to Blantyre as per presidential directive issued early this year but it is the Chairperson and a few others who do not want to relocate to Blantyre
We have it on good authority that it is the Chairperson and MCP commissioners Richard Chapweteka, Rev. Phillip Kambulire and Limbikani Kamlongera who are all part time Lilongwe based Commissioners who are against the order while the other Commissioners see merit in the move
Details also show that with effect from April 1 this year, the rentals at the Lilongwe building have been increased from K34 million to K45 million per month.
Further, the rentals for the Njewa warehouse have been hiked from K38 million to K62 million per month.
Analysts and insiders have said MEC’s leadership is refusing to relocate to Blantyre because it is making business out of the rentals.
“And the leadership is arrogant and extravagant. Why do they want to spend a lot of money on rentals when there is a cheaper way of doing the same thing? I ask the government to ensure that the Commission has relocated,” one analyst said.
The Commission also goofed when it wanted the Ministry of Lands and Housing Development to cover its rentals for the warehouse.
Information that we have shows that the Commission had already budgeted for the warehouse rentals in its Other Recurrent Transactions (ORT).
This is one of the reasons the Commission withdrew the warehouse court case.
Leave a Reply