MALAWI | Ombudsman nullifies recruitments at tax collecting body

The Honorable Ombudsman Grace Tikambenji Malera has nullified recruitment of 8 Call Center Agents for the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), saying it was done without following the due process, proper procedures and rules.

In a just released determination Malera has faulted the Tax Collecting body for using the head hunting method in employing the said officers instead of advertising the job vacancies openly for suitable candidates to apply.

According to Malera authorities within the MRA used word of mouth to announce the existing vacancies, a thing she has said is tantamount to Maladministration.

“The actions of the Respondent in not advertising publicly the vacancy and call for applications of the Call Center Agents position contravened the relevant provisions of the Recruitment and Selection Policy of MIRA, and also constituted a serious abrogation of the cardinal principle of recruitment of persons into the Public Service as stipulated in the Public Service Act…” reads the determination in part.

Contrary to the complaint honorable Malera has said her investigation did not find any evidence that some members of MRA’s Executive management influenced the recruitment process on the basis of being related to some of the candidates.

She has however faulted the concerned executive officers for failing to formally register declarations with the Human Resources Department that their relations had applied for the position of that they were going to be interviewed for the position which was a contravention of MRA's Recruitment and Selection Policy.

Ombudsman Malera has therefore ordered the MRA to effect the attendant administrative action as if the recruitment and appointment did not take place and that all terminal benefits for the 8 should be forfeited.

Adding: “The Management of IMRA should ensure that going forward, all recruitment and appointments of staff of IMRA is carried out through open, competitive, procedural, regular and lawful process.”

She has since ordered the MRA to submit to her office a report on implementation of the directives within 30 days.

Source: The Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Malawi