Screenshot
Tension is mounting at Nkhotakota District Council as the Ministry of Local Government prepares to make a final determination on the position of District Commissioner Ben Matengeni Tohno, amid an ongoing controversy involving more than K600 million in public funds.
Tohno was suspended earlier this year alongside the Council’s Director of Finance following allegations relating to the management of the funds.
The suspension was reportedly intended to facilitate a comprehensive audit by the National Audit Office into the council’s financial affairs.
However, cables reported that the District Commissioner Tohno had since returned to office, a development that has raised questions among some residents and stakeholders, particularly over the circumstances surrounding his reinstatement and the status of the audit findings.
The concerns have now spilled into the District Council, where leadership is understood to be awaiting formal guidance from the Ministry of Local Government on the way forward regarding the DC’s position.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports are circulating in Nkhotakota that the Fiscal Police could intervene in connection with the matter.
The claims have not been officially confirmed, and it remains unclear whether any such operation is imminent. However, sources allege that if investigations expand, individuals involved in decisions surrounding the disputed funds could come under further scrutiny.
The Ministry of Local Government has confirmed that deliberations on the matter are still ongoing and that a final decision will be communicated in due course.
The developments have heightened public interest in the case, with residents demanding answers over the handling of public resources and greater transparency regarding the outcome of the investigations.
With more than K600 million at the centre of the controversy, the Ministry’s forthcoming decision could determine not only Tohno’s future at the council but also the next chapter in Nkhotakota’s ongoing accountability debate.
Cables will continue to follow the matter and provide updates as official information becomes available.
About the Author
