Former Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Director General Godfrey Itaye was illegally recruited, according to a report released by the office of the Ombudsman.

Ombudsman Martha Chizuma, this morning, released a report on allegations of shortcut in the employment of various staff members at MACRA, including Itaye.

In the report, Ombudsman Chizuma, revealed that the complainant who brought to the attention of Itaye’s recruitment to her office, complained that Itaye got the job at MACRA despite having a criminal record at his previous employer.

It is further noted that the complainant alleges that Itaye changed names from Godfrey Masina to Godfrey Itaye.

Revelations emerged that Itaye was irregularly appointed as Post Master General in 2014 by the then president Peter Mutharika and that the decision was endorsed by the then Comptroller of Statutory Corporation, Zangazanga Chikhosi.

The Ombudsman observes that evidence shows that the appointment of Itaye as DG of Macra in August 2015 from Malawi Post Corporation left a lot to be desired.

The Ombudsman’s report clearly states that Itaye was employed as Macra DG without undergoing any interviews.

As a way forward the Ombudsman has directed that all employment contracts for Itaye based on his 2015 contract be nullified and that all terminal benefits for Itaye’s serving period (2016-2019) should not be paid.