Malawi cabinet dissolved
By Wanga Gwede, Nyasa Times
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has dissolved his bloated cabinet.
State broadcaster MBC reported on Friday evening that Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has directed that all former minsters must return government assets entrusted to them due to the portfolio.
“His Excellency the President Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika has dissolved the cabinet with effect from today,” the radio reported quoting OPC statement. “All ministerial duties revert to the Office of the President and Cabinet.”
Reasons for dissolving the cabinet have not been disclosed.
The positions not dissolved are that of the President and Vice President held by Vice President held by Joyce Banda. They are constitutional and elected posts.
Economic experts have been urging Mutharika to trim his bloated cabinet to meet government’s fiscal deficit target.
The dissolved cabinet had 41 ministers including their deputies, and was costing the tax payer a monthly wage bill of over K15 million.
Economic watchdog, Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN), says it is prudent for Wa Mutharika to have a lean cabinet in the wake of 2011/2012 zero-deficit budget.
