Bingu to name new cabinet on merit
President Mutharika secured a landslide victory and his majority ruling DPP has elite legistlatures
Malawi’s re-elected President ‘Ngwazi’ Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is set to hire a new cabinet expected to be on merit and lean, Nyasa Times understands.
Mutharika who has promised to lead the nation into prosperity for his last five-year constitutional term, is reported to have been consulting his preferred choices for the new-look cabinet
The President’s cabinet choices are largely drawn from the elite crop of politicians who have been elected to the national assembly on the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket which won a decisive majority on May 19 polls.
According to public predictions, President Mutharika is expected not to change the Finance Minister. Goodall Gondwe who is credited for the country’ fiscal discipline and economic recovery is likely to return the post.
The former World Bank economist is believed that he would trust Gondwe to continue pursuing his government’s policy reforms to attain a faster rate of macroeconomic growth within a stable political and economic environment as outlined in the elections manifesto.
The President who held two key cabinet portfolios – Minister of education and Minister of agriculture and food security will delegate the powers to full time ministers.
He is set to trust the responsibility to probably [Education] Mzuzu-City parliamentarian Professor Peter Mwanza (former vice chancellor of Mzuzu University) and Dr. Allan Chiyembekeza of Thyolo to get Agriculture to achieve a “Green Revolution” agenda of DPP.
Health is another key portfolio where Mutharika government promised in the manifesto to ensure that all districts in Malawi have adequate medical facilities including “primary health care” within a reasonable distance from homes, and that medical services will be overhauled, significantly improved and upgraded to extend to the remotest areas of the country.
The health community is likely to Dr. Jean Kalilani – Dowa legislature -who formerly worked at the World Health Organization. Dr Etta Banda of Nkhatabay is also in the frame for the post.
Government spokesperson who also happens to be Minister of Information is expected to be Dr Ken Lipenga.
Justice, Constitutional Affairs which was previously held by Henry Duncan Phoya may be trusted in the hands of the current advisor to President Mutharika on constitutional affairs, his brother Professor Peter Mutharika. Phoya, a lawyer, is likely to be nominated for Speaker of Parliament. Some sections feel the either of the post may be taken by one of them.
Trade and Industry is likely to go to Dr. Cornelius Mwalwanda while former principal secretary Grain Malunga and University of Malawi lecture Salule Masangwi; both who have won DPP parliamentary seats in Chikwawa and Zomba respectively are likely to be considered for ministries of Water and Economic planning.
It is also postulated that old guards in the elite league will make into the new Mutharika cabinet. They include Dr. George Chaponda and the return of Eunice Kazembe.
Think-tank group Institute of Policy Interaction, (IPS) director Rafiq Hajat said the new cabinet is expected to be on merit and lean.
“My expectation of the cabinet is that it will be lean preferably 15 ministers,” said Hajat said.
He said President Mutharika should not appoint ministers on political appeasement describing his previous 45-member cabinet as bloated.
“It [the new cabinet] will not be subject to political expediency. It is the cabinet that will work for the people of Malawi,” said Hajat
The political commentator said in an interview with Capital FM radio said the previous cabinet was “by necessity very bloated” and that the country expects to see “cabinet that is tailored for the cause.”
He said ministers should have the passion for the people of Malawi.
No government official was willing to comment on the President’s “prerogative choices”.
But others names penciled in for appointment in the cabinet includes Daniel Liwimbi, Benjamin Mmangira, Agness Penemulungu, Lucius Kanyumba, and Sidik Mia.
Darling of the people for his use of flowery English, Nicholas Dausi has been tipped to get a junior ministerial post at Information.
He is likely to be in company of other junior ministers who may include relation to late dictator Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda – Ken Kandodo – who won a parliamentary seat in Kasungu on DPP ticket.
The President is also set to shuffle some controlling officers in government and aides and appoint people “on merit”.
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