Hellen Buluma – Malawi Freedom Network

Jan62023 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Govt Officials Threatening Me – Buluma

News

Former acting Chief Executive Officer of National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Helen Buluma has revealed that she is being intimidated by someone from the government who she identified as ‘Madam’ for refusing to have a hand in corruption deals. Buluma in November last year resigned on grounds that she was under immense pressure from NOCMA Board Chairperson Colleen Zamba, Principal Secretary in the ministry of Energy Alfonso Chikuni and others to bring new fuel suppliers and expensive fuel financiers through dubious means. Later, the Public appointments committee of parliament invited Buluma to a hearing where she also mentioned that working at the company comes with a lot of pressure as a lot of people with connections want to have deals to supply fuel or be brokers dubiously. T...

Nov232022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Suspend Nocma Chairperson And SPC Zamba Now-Navicha

What's Hot

Thyolo Thava Member of Parliament, Mary Navicha is proposing immediate suspension of NOCMA chairperson and Secretary to President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba to pave way for smooth investigations on Buluma's serious allegations against her. She further says the lawmakers present in this hearing are under pressure and receiving threats to leave the room. Navicha further calls for beefing up of Buluma's security detail. It has also emerged that no PAC member from the Malawi Congress Party is available during this hearing and the Committee Chairperson, Joyce Chitsulo says she never got any communication from the MP's excusing themselves.

Nov232022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Kwavuta:Nkokenkoke Pa Nkhani Ya Buluma

Local

Mlangizi wa boma pa nkhani za malamulo Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda wasemphana zochita ndi komiti ya Public Appointments-PAC pa nkhani yoti yemwe adali wachiwiri kwa mkulu wa NOCMA, mai Hellen Buluma akaonekere ku nyumbayi kuti akafotokoze mwatchutchutchu zomwe adalemba mu kalata yawo yosiya ntchito. Mwa zina, a Buluma adati wapampando wa board ya NOCMA yemwenso ndi mlembi mu ofesi ya mtsogoleri wa dziko ndi nduna zake, mai Colleen Zamba, akuluakulu ena a chipani cha MCP komanso a boma ankawakakamiza kuti adzipereka ma contract mwachinyengo. Koma a Chakaka Nyirenda auza Sipikala wa nyumba ya malamulo, Catherine Gotani Hara kuti a Buluma komanso a Zamba asawonekere ku komiti-yi pomwe PAC yati ipitilira ndi ganizo lake lofunsa awiriwa. Kodi nkoyeneradi kuti mai Buluma ndi mai Zamba a...

Nov232022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

SPC Zamba Snubs PAC Summon

What's Hot

Secretary to the President and Cabinet, who is also NOCMA Board Chairperson, Colleen Zamba has failed to appear before the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament to present her side of the story on the serious allegations the former NOCMA acting Chief Executive Officer, Hellen Buluma has levelled against her. PAC Chairperson, Joyce Chitsulo says Zamba's turn was supposed to be immediately after Buluma's appearance today. She adds Zamba has not given any reasons or apology for her absence. "We will consult necessary standing orders and parliamentary legal team on the way forward," says Chitsulo. Earlier, Buluma alleged Zamba was forcing her to endorse illegal fuel supply contracts with certain companies without following the due procurement processes. But Buluma clearly...

Nov162022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

NOCMA Boss Buluma Fired

Stories

Acting Chief Executive Officer for the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) Helen Buluma has resigned from her post with immediate effect. In a letter we have seen, Buluma says she has arrived at the decision because of the pressure she has been receiving from the office of the Secretary to President and Cabinet on award of contracts to fuel suppliers. Our sources from the Office of the President Cabinet however, have told Times 360 Malawi that a decision had been reached to fire Buluma. The sources have not spelt out the reasons for the decision. Recently, SPC Colleen Zamba had a spat with Ombudsman Grace Malera, following the latter's determination to have Buluma removed from her post.

Nov92022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Buluma Summoned To Appear Before Court

Uncategorized

The Chief Resident Magistrate's Court in Lilongwe has summoned National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) deputy chief executive officer (CEO) Helen Buluma to appear before the court without fail and testify from January 17 to January 20 2023 in the fuel deals case. According to a copy of the summons dated November 3 2022, Judge Patrick Chirwa states: “You are hereby summoned to attend court before the Chief Resident Magistrate Court to testify on what you know concerning the complaint on the 17th-20th January 2023 at 9 o'clock in the forenoon from day to day until the trial be concluded and herein fail not." The summons follow a complaint by the defense team who on July 7 2022 wrote the magistrate arguing that Buluma was displaying traits of a malingering witness, after she sought for ...

Oct32022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

The Infamous Nocma Case, Oryx Awarded Contract Without Tender

Corruption News

Corruption At NOCMA, Oryx A warded contract without tender When the allegations were leveled against three prominent Malawi citizens, it was stated by the so-called whistleblower that the three Honourable gentlemen were trying to influence the NOCMA Ag CEO to award contracts to some preferred companies albeit in exchange for what was termed bribes disguised as support to the regime. Whether State House was a beneficiary is a discussion for another day One of the companies mentioned at the onset of the prolonged trial is Oryx/Addax a renowned supplier with capacity to provide fuel as they have done over the years. Strangely, it was stated that Oryx was “caught” on the wrong side and their name dragged along in the said case. As fate would have it, at the whim of the State, Oryx’s nam...

Sep302022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Ombudsman Report Says Buluma’s Recruitment Unlawful

What's Hot

The Ombudsman says the recruitment of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) was unlawful since it did not meet legal requirements, follow proper recruitment procedures and that the appointment flouted policies and procedures of the conditions of service of the company. She said Buluma's appointment was arbitrary since it was a directive by the then Head of State, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika in September 2019. The Ombudsman said Buluma told the inquiry that she did not apply for the Deputy CEO position at NOCMA but has the requisite skills and qualifications for the post. She added that Buluma also admitted to having served in the National Governing Council of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). It is on record that Buluma par...

Sep92022 by Suleman ChiteraNo Comments

Fuel Shortage In The Country Is A Result Of Forex Shortage.

What's Hot

Update from Nocma appearance at parliament. Nocma Acting CEO, Buluma has told the Committee that the fuel shortage that the country is experiencing is as a result of forex shortage. Buluma says, NOCMA needs about 50 million US dollars to procure fuel every month. She says, NOCMA has however managed to get 30% of this requirement that has led to NOCMA importing not enough fuel. She has told the committee that the forex shortage has not only affected NOCMA but also Petroleum Importers Limited and other importers at the lower level. According to Buluma, in August NOCMA did not have financing since there was no forex and this affected them. She says, at present local banks do not have forex and Reserve Bank has only released 10 million dollars out of the said 20 million. Buluma...

Sep32022 by Malawi Freedom NetworkNo Comments

Motorists in Malawi are Having to Rely on Fuel Smuggled in from Neighbouring Mozambique

Business

According to the 2021 Auditor-General’s report, of the 374, 14 are Diploma programs, and 80 are undergraduate programmes. Postgraduate programmes are 213 and 67 are PhD programmes. The report dated June 1, 2022, was addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin. The running of unaccredited courses is in contrast to Section 36 of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) which “provides that a person who runs or advertises a tertiary education program that is not accredited; commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than ten thousand penalty units and not more than twenty thousand penalty units or a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years and not more than 20 years, or to both.” Management has been asked to “liaise with Gh...