Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee has summoned officials from the Blantyre Water Board (BWB) to answer questions about governance, executive management changes and administrative decisions at the utility.
Committee chairperson Felix Njawala said the committee wanted explanations about disagreements between the board and its former chief executive, Yeremia Chihana, as well as concerns raised by employees.
The board has previously faced management tensions, including the forced leave of several senior officials to allow an independent forensic audit.
The committee’s intervention places renewed attention on accountability within public institutions and the importance of effective management of essential services.
Water boards play a critical role in supplying households, businesses, hospitals and other institutions. Governance problems can create concerns about operational efficiency and service delivery, making transparency particularly important.
Why it matters: Parliamentary scrutiny can help establish whether public institutions are being managed responsibly and whether administrative decisions are serving the public interest.