By Our Reporter
Controversial politician, whom President Peter Mutharika recently appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Umodzi Holdings Limited, has been suspended from his position primarily for causing chaos and threatening violence during the institution’s board meeting held at the BICC in Lilongwe on 12 September 2026. This publication can reveal.
Kamlepo is not new to wild and wayward behaviour; he made news some years ago by lying to the nation that he had been abducted by his political opponents overnight when he was found in the wee hours one morning with both his hands neatly tied together, sitting comfortably on a roadside at Kwacha Roundabout in Blantyre, looking clean and groomed.
An investigation by the police found no credence to his claims, and his claims were dismissed as childish political theatrics.
This publication has it on authority that the Board of Umodzi Holdings Limited had summoned Kamlepo Kalua and his management team to a board meeting to explain some developments at the company.
Among the issues, the Umodzi Holdings Board wanted to hear from Mr Kamlepo Kalua and his management on allegations that the company was engaging suppliers and contractors without due process, recruiting and terminating employees’ contracts recklessly, and making unjustifiable internal transfers and promotions.
This was exposing the company to avoidable litigation and suits, the board told Umodzi Holdings management.
The board also wanted to hear from Mr Kamlepo Kalua about allegations of a bad working relationship between him and his staff, including allegations of physical and verbal abuse towards his staff members, generally creating a toxic and unfavourable working environment.
When these claims were put before management, top management members at the company, notably the Director of Finance and Administration, Jonathan Makwiyelu, and General Manager Xavier Liabunya, who also chairs the Internal Procurement and Disposal of Assets Committee (IPDC), exonerated themselves from the accusations and explained that their offices were not part of the administrative mess and that they were never consulted on the decisions being queried.
The managers claimed that Kamlepo Kalua makes company decisions unilaterally, as he claims he has authority from the President and can only report to the President.
The meeting got heated up when Kamlepo Kalua became angry and started shouting, pointing fingers at his management team and accusing them of conspiring to finish him, claiming that they were part of the mess because he (Kamlepo Kalua) was making those decisions on behalf of management as the Controlling Officer.
“Ndikudziwa mwapangana. Ine simungandithetu. Ine ndi Kamlepo. Ngati zili zimezi tithana,” threatened Kamlepo.
The various members of management challenged Kamlepo Kalua by producing before the board members various administrative documents, ranging from documents on procurement decisions, finance and contracts, in which Kamlepo Kalua was side-stepping all procedural offices and approving payments and contracts without their knowledge.
It was at this point that Kamlepo Kalua, who was famous in the early 2000s politics for threatening Dr Bakili Muluzi to kulowa ntchire and start a war, left his chair and charged towards the Director of Finance, threatening to deal with him physically, throwing the whole board meeting into chaos.
The Chairperson of the Board, Geobra Kamanga, had to come in and calm the situation.
Members of the board rushed to physically restrain Kamlepo Kalua from throwing blows at his management members.
The situation got further out of hand as Kamlepo Kalua got so angry and unceremoniously left the boardroom while shouting insults.
“Inetu sindimaopa. You can do what you want, you have no power over me. Munandilemba ntchito sinu. Mukudana nane chifukwa ndine northerner,” shouted Kamlepo.
Kalua stormed out of the boardroom and never returned.
When matters calmed down, the board continued its deliberations and resolved that Kamlepo Kalua be suspended for unbecoming behaviour and for threatening his members of staff and the board.
The board further resolved that an investigation be undertaken into the allegations against the management and Mr Kamlepo Kalua in particular.
After the incident, Mr Kamlepo Kalua has been making claims on social media that he is being targeted because he comes from the North.
Ironically, his board chairman, Mr Kamanga, and several other board members, including renowned lawyer Wapona Kita, also come from the Northern Region, and they all witnessed the drama Kamlepo Kalua caused during the board meeting.
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