Former MYPs Fighting For Leadership As Govt Is Yet To Pay Compensation

Concerned Ex-MYP Victims of 1993/94 Operation
Bwezani during 2014 petition to president Banda

Tension have emerged in the group of dismembered Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) on who should lead their group and who should negotiate with government on their outstanding grievances.

MYP ended during disarmament of 1993 Operation Bwezani but they rejoined to ask government to give them compensation and premature retirement packages.

In 2012, government halted payment parade of their retirement packages after it was found that there were some ghost members on the payment list. Grey Chisale who led the unified MYP group was accused of perpetrating such malpractice and was ousted by angered members.

Almost three years after the incident the former MYP leader, Grey Chisale has now began issue warnings to the group now being led by Pastor Pearson Banda to stop engaging with government on revamping the payment parade saying government still recognise him as the leader for Defunct MYPs.

Chisale warning follows the recent petition which the group now known as Concerned Ex-MYPs Victims of 1993 Operation Bwezani led by Pastor Pearson Banda asked President Mutharika to intervene and quickly address their outstanding grievances that is; recommence payment of reasonable premature retirement package, compensation and stop continue engaging with MYP old committee.

Grey Chisale told journalists in Lilongwe that the Concerned Ex-MYP leadership should stop engaging with government because he is still recognised as MYPs negotiator.

Chisale justified his claim saying there is a letter to the Concerned Ex-MYP leader Pearson Banda dated 10th April 2013, from John Kalanga Secretary for Human Resource Management and Development which said Government believes that there is only one secretariate to which all Ex-MYP members are affiliated to whose national coordinator is Mr Grey Chisale and advised to sort out their issues with Mr. Chisale.

He added that on 16th September 2013, former ACB Director Justice Rizine Mzikamanda  wrote to accountant General informing on ACB concluded investigations pertaining to all allegations some Ex-MYP members had brought. The letter claimed that ACB has not been able to substantiate the said allegations as such the process to disburse compensation to the remaining Ex-MYP members can proceed.

“Am not defending the government”, Chisale claimed “But I initiated this group when others fled this country during the disarmament in 1993, it was me and my committee who initiated dialogue with government and this is why the government is opting to work with me and not the so called the Victims of the Operation Bwezani (Ex-MYP led by PearsonBanda) who were rejected by government immediately at the first attempt to introduce themselves as elected members of former MYPs.”

He further accused the Ex-MYP group for creating confusion among members of defunct MYP and prompting delays for the government to recommence the payment parade for their pension.

“To show their failure, they are insulting the president through their petitions and threatening the nation, so it means that they have nothing to do and have nowhere to go”

“These people have said are not satisfied with the calculations and model government is following when paying the terminal benefits for the Ex-MYP” said Grey Chisale

“I being the person who was briefed on how the calculations were done, am satisfied because there is no way a person who worked for few years would get millions of money but only those who worked for a long time and are eligible for pension can receive a lot of money yet the other group does not know this hence making so many demands.”

Reacting to the Chisale claims, Publicity Secretary for the Ex-MYPs Mr. Hendrix Chimjota said “This is very unfortunate because the sentiments are lacking truth. There is no justice in that.” Adding  that "documents being used by Mr. Chisale to justify the claim are outdated" 

“What Mr. Chisale and his committee would have done was to sit down and think why we came up with this petition. I still cling as group being lead by Pastor Pearson Banda, we are saying that these people were smoked out by genuine Ex-MYPs because of the ghosting that was masterminded by Mr. Grey Chisale in 2012 payment parade.” said Chimjota

“Mr. Chisale prompted for anomalies of ghosting, he ferried non Ex-MYPs from various districts to receive compensation money a thing which did not go well with the fellow Ex-MYPs. His action has left several genuine Ex-MYPs not receiving any compensation and retirement packages during the first payment parade.” Explained Chimjota who added that “We lost trust in Mr. Chisale for what he did, and if he was intelligent enough he would have resigned and stop this.”

“Some people were caught red handed with faked IDs by police” he continued and indicated  "government is aware of it, some were arrested includong those that were in committee of Chisale and Chisale masterminded that ghosting” he claimed

“It is the government that should respond to our petition a thing that we are waiting patiently, nobody should intervene with this!” warned Chimjota who also mentioned that government is still recognizing them and is taking into consideration of any issue they presented.