Government told to tell the truth on Buluma’s firing and resignation

Pressure is mounting on the government to clarify National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA)’s acting Chief Executive Officer Hellen Buluma’s exit from the institution.

Yesterday, two contrasting documents emerged on the public scene: first; a letter from Buluma announcing her resignation followed by another from NOCMA board chairperson, Coleen Zamba, terminating Buluma’s contract.

In her letter, Buluma is alleging that she decided to jump ship due to pressure from the secretary for energy Alfonso Chikuni and Zamba who have been demanding to have some new suppliers of oil in the country.

While pressing for an honest account on the sequence of events, Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa is also daring the government to address Buluma’s allegations implicating top officials in dubious oil deals.

“The question is, what happened first? Is it her firing or her resignation? The Minister of energy needs to tell this house and the public the truth about the matter as well as Buluma’s accusations of the SPC and the PS for energy,” Nankhumwa said.

According to Nankhumwa, these are strong allegations which needed to be taken seriously by the authorities, to ensure that the institution continues to operate within its laws without the interference of outsiders.

However, the Minister of energy Ibrahim Matola was not present in the house to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, the board of NOCMA has announced the appointment of Chrispin Ndalama as a new director seating on the NOCMA board, coinciding with the removal/resignation of Buluma.