Political appointments to parastatals queried

Recent government appointments of individuals perceived to be active politicians to lead state‑owned enterprises (SOEs) and parastatals have drawn scrutiny from governance experts, who warn the moves could undermine institutional independence. Among the latest appointees is Rhoda Gadama Misomali, who contested the Mulanje Central parliamentary seat on a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket and lost; she has been named chief executive officer of the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM). Yeremiah Chihana, a former Alliance for Democracy (Aford) legislator for Mzimba North who later joined the DPP, has been appointed chief executive of the Blantyre Water Board (BWB).

Former Nsanje Lalanje legislator Gladys Ganda now heads the Southern Region Water Board, while Julius Tione Mwase, who lost in the Nkhata Bay Mpamba constituency, will lead the Northern Region Water Board. Chris Chaima Banda, who recently defected from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to the DPP, has been named to the Cannabis Regulatory Authority (CRA). Private‑practice lawyer and National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said such appointments may be legally permissible but risk eroding governance standards and institutional autonomy.

“In principle, appointing politically active individuals can be lawful if the process follows legal requirements, meets qualification criteria and avoids conflicts of interest,” Kondowe said. “But the absence of an outright prohibition does not remove the obligation to safeguard institutional integrity and independence.” Kondowe urged that each appointment be assessed against constitutional principles of good governance, transparency, accountability and merit, as well as the enabling statutes that govern each institution. Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said the trend raises serious concerns about public trust and the professional functioning of parastatals.

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“Parastatals should operate as professional, technocratic institutions serving the public interest,” Kaiyatsa said. “When partisan actors head these bodies, decision‑making risks becoming politically driven rather than guided by efficiency, merit and service delivery.” Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), executive director Willy Kambwandira warned that without transparent processes and adherence to governance standards, the appointments could entrench systemic problems. “These appointments undermine merit‑based recruitment, institutional independence and professional management of public enterprises,” Kambwandira said.

“Parastatals are national assets funded by taxpayers and require technical leadership insulated from political pressure. Placing politically exposed individuals at the helm risks turning these institutions into extensions of party machinery rather than vehicles for efficient service delivery and economic performance.” Kambwandira called on Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee to scrutinise the appointments and ensure compliance with governance norms. Responding to the criticism, Minister of Information and government spokesperson Shadric Namalomba defended the selections as merit‑based and necessary for reforming parastatals.

“Participation in recent elections does not disqualify someone from public service,” Namalomba said. “These appointees are qualified and can contribute to national development. I want to assure the public that concerns about governance and accountability are unwarranted. We are running a professional government that respects the independence of parastatals.”

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