BWB instantly replaces CEO, draws criticism

Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has come under scrutiny for instantly replacing fired chief executive officer Yeremiah Chihana with Henri Bakuwa in a process that has raised eyebrows over adherence to the recruitment due process.

The board summarily dismissed Chihana on Monday and by Tuesday there was an announcement that Bakuwa, who previously served as BWB director of finance and once acted as CEO, has been appointed.

BWB board chairperson Stanley Chirwa yesterday confirmed Bakuwa’s appointment yesterday and said he was given a full contract.

“Due process was followed in his appointment,” he said in a WhatsApp response when asked how the recruitment was conducted.

Chirwa: Due process

was followed. | Nation

But reacting to the appointment, a former senior civil servant familiar with parastatals queried the times between Chihana’s dismissal and Bakuwa’s recruitment, saying the processes involved cannot be undertaken within such a timeline.

The officer said the process ordinarily involves advertising the position, receiving and screening applications, shortlisting candidates, conducting interviews and selecting a candidate on merit before the board formally approves the appointment.

“How could all those procedures have been followed between Monday when Chihana was dismissed and Tuesday when Bakuwa was hired?” he questioned.

The officer also questioned Chihana’s appointment, saying the law was not followed either citing Section 8(1) of the Waterworks Act which gives the BWB board the power to appoint the CEO.

In an interview yesterday, Chihana confirmed that his appointment did not originate from the BWB board, but was a decision by President Peter Mutharika.

He said the President directed Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi to communicate the decision to the Comptroller of Statutory Corporations who then communicated with BWB; hence, his challenge that the BWB board of directors cannot fire him.

But another former senior civil servant said the power to appoint or remove the CEO rests with the board, not the President, Chief Secretary to the Government or Comptroller of Statutory Corporations.

Said the officer: “From the way Chihana was appointed, it is safe to even say that he was at the utility illegally because no procedure was followed in his appointment.

“So, yes, his appointment letter might have come from the Chief Secretary or the Comptroller, but all these people do not have those powers. It is for the boards.”

The official said the same legal requirement was supposed to be applied in Bakuwa’s appointment, regardless of his previous service at BWB.

Chirwa did not respond to follow-up questions on whether the position was advertised, applications were received and screened, candidates shortlisted and interviews conducted before Bakuwa was appointed.

Bakuwa, an accountant, previously joined BWB in 2010 as director of finance and served as acting CEO for three years from 2014.

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