Blantyre Water Board (BWB) employees yesterday intensified their push to have chairperson Stanley Chirwa and chief executive officer Yeremiah Chihana removed by blocking their access to the board’s head office. The main entrance to the BWB head office in Chichiri, Blantyre was sealed with a graphic-designed colour banner pasted and carrying a message that Chihana … The post BWB staff intensify push against CEO, board chair appeared first on Nation Online .
Blantyre Water Board (BWB) employees yesterday intensified their push to have chairperson Stanley Chirwa and chief executive officer Yeremiah Chihana removed by blocking their access to the board’s head office.
The main entrance to the BWB head office in Chichiri, Blantyre was sealed with a graphic-designed colour banner pasted and carrying a message that Chihana and Chirwa should not be let in. Only the board’s staff were allowed entry into the premises while some vehicles were seen being turned back.
The gathering included BWB workers from Walker’s Ferry pumping station about 70 kilometres away and Chileka pumping station as well as BWB zones from across the city. They said they were off duty; hence, turned up to join their colleagues.
BWB Employees Trade Union vice-president Aphia Liwonde said the workers were not on strike, but holding prayers for President Peter Mutharika’s response to their appeal for the removal of Chihana and Chirwa.
“We are praying that our appeal should receive a favourable response. We will continue to gather here until we get a response,” he said.
But Liwonde said employees whose duties are critical to water production and supply were working to ensure that the dispute does not disrupt water services.
The Nation checks at Limbe Zone Office and BWB payment points at Chichiri and in Blantyre found the facilities open and providing normal services.
While the workers gathered in Blantyre, a team led by the union’s secretary general Davie Maluwa was in Lilongwe to deliver their petition to the President through the Office of the President and Cabinet.
Liwonde said they delivered the letter around 4pm to both the Comptroller of Statutory Corporations Stuart Ligomeka, who doubles as Deputy Chief Secretary to the Government and to Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi.
Both Saidi and Ligomeka were not available for comment yesterday.
The employees’ action comes after the High Court of Malawi ordered Chihana’s reinstatement following his fresh suspension by the board last week over allegations of misrepresentation, unauthorised appointments and securing a K500 million overdraft allegedly without the board’s approval.
The post BWB staff intensify push against CEO, board chair appeared first on Nation Online.
Follow the story
