Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament has rejected two newly appointed members of the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) board due to varied reasons, technically crippling its functionality.

During its meeting, PAC also reserved its confirmation decision on the appointment of former Auditor General Reckford Kampanje as Mera board chairperson on grounds that he needed to first step down from National Oil Company (Nocma) board where he is currently serving as a member.

Chitsulo: We conducted the interviews

Information The Nation has sourced on the interviews between PAC and the appointees held on Saturday and yesterday shows that the committee rejected Innocencia Chirombo, who was appointed vice-chairperson, because she had already served in the previous board which was faulted in the recruitment process of Mera chief executive officer Henry Kachaje.

The committee also rejected Rhodrick Chingota, who is 76, for purportedly being overage.

Chingota had on Friday replaced Lameck Nchembe, who was removed from the original appointment on PAC’s recommendation.

In an interview yesterday, PAC chairperson Joyce Chitsulo confirmed that they indeed conducted the interviews, but could not be drawn to share more details.

She said: “I can confirm that we held interviews from Saturday and Sunday. For the outcome of the confirmation of the board members, you may wish to contact the appointing authority.”

Has been asked to quit Nocma board: Kampanje

Presidential press secretary Anthony Kasunda said in a written response yesterday that the President always does a background check before making appointments, but he is also bound by laws that regulate how to make such appointments.

He said: “One such rule is the requirement for the President to appoint at least one member from the previous board into the new board to preserve institutional memory, and the President deemed it more important to comply with the rule of law than his own sentiments.”

Kasunda said the President will wait for the report on the recommendations of PAC.

President Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday appointed new Mera board members weeks after the previous board resigned on February 27 2022 ahead of a scheduled hearing by PAC following a request from Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi for their removal due to alleged poor handling of the recruitment of Kachaje.

In the new board, Chakwera also appointed Nchembe, Charles Kambauwa, Ulemu Kambwiri as members with Secretary for Energy, director of Energy and Mera chief executive officer as ex-officio members.

Kasunda: President will look at the recommendations

Chikhosi, who signed the statement announcing the new board, said the appointments were subject to the confirmation by PAC as per provisions of the Energy Regulation Act.

The President appointed the new Mera board after growing concern that the absence of the board which is critical for decision making, especially on current rising fuel cost, may be a ticking time bomb that will heavily affect consumers.

In an earlier interview with The Nation, University of Malawi economics professor Ben Kaluwa warned that global trends on fuel prices, including the global economy compounded by effects of the Russia and Ukraine conflict will not spare the country’s energy sector.

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