The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has condemned the stance adopted by councillors in Chiradzulu who want District Commissioner Memory Kaleso transferred from the council.
The councillors want Kaleso out because she has instilled fiscal discipline by, among other measures, refusing to release funds for political activities.
In an interview on Monday, CCJP National Secretary Martin Chiphwanya said the councillors are focussing on petty issues.
“The issues the councillors are raising border on selfishness. The councillors are only trying to frustrate the District Commissioner who is only doing her job in managing government money. As this is happening, some operations at the council have been paralysed,” he said.
Chiphwanya has called upon the government to move in quickly and act decisively on the matter.
“I have heard that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has warned the councillors with sanctions if they continue intimidating the public officer. That is commendable but this has to be done quickly,” he said.
He further attributed the actions of the councillors to ignorance of the processes and procedures councils operate on.
“Senior DPP officials have actually distanced themselves from the councillors, meaning they are on their own and something must be done,” he said.
Recently, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development instituted investigations into the issue and it also disclosed that it is awaiting legal advice from the Attorney General on how it should proceed with the development.
Among other issues, the councillors demanded allowance from their council for attending Chilembwe Day commemorations in the district on January15.
Kaleso is reported to have been a subject of threats from the 10 Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councillors who are not happy with her reluctance to let them abuse council resources.
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