Malawi: Dokani Ngwira Confirmed in November as National Intelligence Service (NIS) Chief Following Appointment by President Chakwera in July Last Year.
The Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of Parliament has confirmed Dokani Ngwira as the new Director General (DG) of National Intelligence Services (NIS).
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera appointed Ngwira to head NIS in July 2020 subject to confirmation by PAC.
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On November 19, the Committee’s chairperson Joyce Chitsulo confirmed with Nyasa Times that parliament had finally confirmed Ngwira, as he was found fit and duly qualified for the position.
“The committee was satisfied with his qualifications and experience he has in the intelligence services,” she said.
A graduate from the University of Malawi, Ngwira worked in various portfolios in the then National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) before picking up the post of the Director in the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Development where he was still working until his appointment to head NIS.
Situation in Northern Mozambique
His confirmation also comes when the country is following closely the violent unrest in the northern province of Mozambique might spread to neighboring states, Malawi being one of them.
Recently, The United States of America (USA) State Department said it plans to closely monitor Mozambique’s border with Malawi.
The Insurgency in Cabo Delgado is an ongoing conflict in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, mainly fought between Islamist militants attempting to establish an Islamic state in the region, and Mozambican security forces. Civilians have been the main targets of attacks by Islamist militants.
The main insurgent faction is Ansar al-Sunna, a native extremist faction with tenuous international connections.
In December last year, Chakwera announced that troops from the Malawian Defence Force will be sent to Mozambique to assist in anti-insurgent operations.
Mismanagement of COVID Funds
In February, it was reported that President Chakwera had sent Ngwira on interdiction, over mismanagement of the Covid-19 response funds pending investigations and possible prosecution.
Secretary to the President and Cabinet Mr Duvelius Zangazanga Chikhosi had confirmed the interdictions of the spy chief but rejected reports that Malawi Defence Force and Police chiefs have also been interdicted.
Ngwira reportedly used part of Covid-19 funds to purchase some furniture for his home in Area 44, outside his entitlement.
National Intelligence Services was among the many government agencies which got a huge chunk of Covid-19 funds from the abused Malawi Kwacha 6.2 billion (about US 7.5 million) which Treasury released last August.
Ngwira allegedly used the Covid-19 funds to furnish his house with state-of-the-art furniture from AAM Furnitures in Lilongwe .
He also claimed to use the funds by sending spy agencies on Covid-19 border patrols and in the fields in the middle of pandemic cases escalation,
However, no officer or agent from NIS was sent in the fields , raising suspicious on how over K 300 million the spy agency got were used.
It is apparent that the confirmation the Parliamentary Committee exonerated Ngwira, with its chairperson saying her committee was satisfied with his qualifications and experience he has in the intelligence services.
SOURCES: Nyasa Times, The Atlas