Malawi’s new cabinet sworn –in
Vice President, Right Hon Joyce Banda
Malawi’s new Cabinet took office on Thursday with President Bingu wa Mutharika appealing for patrotism and veil of secrecy.
The new members of the Cabinet were sworn in at the New State House in Lilongwe in the presence of President Mutharika.
President Mutharika, while addressing the ministers and their deputies after the ceremony said he was confident his new cabinet but warned the team that there was “hard work ahead”.
Mutharika told the ministers that there will be no “honeymoon” and urged them to roll up their sleeves and get to work immediately.
The Malawi leader emphasised on keeping government confidentiality.
“We will have to maintain secrecy of this government because this is very important and demands loyalty and patriotism. I have no doubt that you will keep the secrecy,” said President Mutharika.
Cabinet which was unveiled on Wednesday took the oath of office starting with ministers in the morning starting with Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Etta Banda, followed by new Finance Minister Ken Kandodo. Also taking oath was the President’s brother, Professor Peter Arthur Mutharika who is Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister.
The deputies who included musician-cum-politician Billy Kaunda who won Mzimba west constituency on an independent ticket but has rejoined DPP, took their oath in the afternoon.
The Cabinet features only eleven old ministers which are; Goodall Gondwe (Local Government) Sidik Mia (Defence), Patricia Kaliati (Women and Children), Anna Kachikho (Tourism and Wildlife), Khumbo Kachali (Transport and Works), Aaron Sangala (Home affairs), George Chaponda (Education), Felton Mulli (Deputy persons with disabilities), Yunus Mussa (Labour), John Bande (deputy Labour) and Billy Kaunda (deputy Youth).
Analysts expressed disappointment with the holder of Finance Minister, Kandodo who has a working experience as an auditor replacing reputed economist Goodall Gondwe.
Many Malawians who have spoken in various media outlets have said Kandodo who has tainted background where he was involved in “money multiplying scandal” while working for Blantyre Print and Packaging is not inspiring confidence.
“The former finance minister [Goodall Gondwe] we are talking about here, it was very evident I think to all Malawians that he did a very good job. So much as the president has that prerogative, I don’t think it goes with moving people anyhow,” Noel Mbowela a political analyst at Mzuzu University told VOA.
Mbowela also noted that President Mutharika didn’t keep his campaign promise of a lean government after packing 43 people in cabinet.
“We were told during the campaign period that the cabinet was going to be lean. But I think what has happened is the exact opposite,” he said.
However, presidential spokesman Chikumbutso Mtumodzi said Mutharika has the “prerogative right” to hire ministers to any portfolios.
“Anything relating to the appointment or organizing of the cabinet is the sole prerogative of the president,” Mtumodzi said.
Mbowela nonetheless said Malawians are questioning the rationale behind the change at the finance ministry.
“I think one would really not understand what the president is trying to achieve…the shifting has really raised a lot of suspicion from people to say there is no continuity anymore. And after all one would simply say maybe there is something very strange that is happening behind the scene,” he said.
Mbowela said Malawians had confidence in the performance of Gondwe who now takes over as Local Government Minister.—(Additional reporting VOA)
Old Article more than 4 months. Comment is closed.
