By Vincent Gunde
President of the New Liberation Party (NLP) Isaiah Emmanuel Sunganimoyo, has opposed the removal of retired Brigadier General Charles Kalumo as Director General (DG) of the Immigration Department claiming that the reasons given for his removal are absurd and not enough.
The High Court in Blantyre nullified the appointment of Kalumo as not procedural, having retired from public service in 1994 and later rejoin public service to take up the challenging position of DG at the Immigration Department.
Since day one of his appointment by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, there have been protests and protests against his appointment claiming that the Director General could have been one working at the Immigration Department or any other person as long as he or she is a serving public officer.
Speaking through a video clip circulating in various social media platforms and an open letter sent to President Chakwera, Sunganimoyo describes Kalumo as one of the best Directors in the public service claiming that he served Malawians at the Immigration Department without any corruption attachments.
Sunganimoyo claims that in April, 2023 he visited Kalumo’s office where he proved himself that the Immigration Department was a corruption-free zone, there were no shot-cuts for issuance of passports and no middlemen acting as Immigration officers or having connections with the officers.
He says what he saw at the Immigration Department made him to record a voice note that was shared in all WhatsApp channels recommending Kalumo’s good efforts of fighting against corruption at the Department of Immigration.
The NLP President says what he noted of great concern was the challenge that the Immigration Department has been facing insufficient funds for printing out passports saying this challenge has been there before Dr. Kalumo was appointed as the Immigration Department Chief.
“Kalumo has not failed to discharge his duties as Immigration Department’s Chief but his office was receiving insufficient funds for printing out passports,” reads part of the contents in a letter sent to President Chakwera.
He says Kalumo is not to be blamed as an incompetent DG of the Immigration Department advising Malawians to learn to embrace and compliment those people who are serving them with no strings of corruption or bribes saying Kalumo is one such example.
Sunganimoyo claims that during the reign of Dr. Bakili Muluzi, Professor Bingu wa Mutharika retired school teachers, Nurses and Doctors were hired into public schools and hospitals to improve efficiency saying those who were against the appointment of Kalumo are corrupt officers not wishing their country well.
