Ombudsman Grace 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, 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 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.
On May 7, 2021 the Office of the Ombudsman received a Complaint from anonymous person(s), on allegations of irregular recruitment of 10 staff members in the Remote Resolutions Call Centre at the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) (the Respondent).
Out of the 10 one did not accept the job offer while one passed away.
Reported by Ombudsman Office.
