Malawi President Mutharika criticised on social media over DPP nepotism

Malawians have taken up on social media to accuse President Peter Mutharika of continued appointing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cronies’ relatives and wives into top positions in government.

Mutharika said at a rally on Friday that he appoints people on merit not because of their patriotism to the DPP, tribe or region.

“The minister of Finance, the key ministry in my government is from the north, the Chief Justice is from the north, the director of the Anti Corruption Bureau is from the north,” said Mutharika.

However a debate raging on Facebook shows Mutharika is alarmingly appointing relatives of DPP cronies into top positions at the expense of tax payers.

The people give an example of Labour Minister Henry Mussa whose wife, Agrina has been appointed High Commissioner to Kenya.

Mussa’s third daughter, Janet, is deputy ambassador to Zimbabwe.

The Malawians are also giving an example of. Francis Mbilizi, a DPP crony who is chairperson of Lilongwe Water Board, chairperson of Umodzi Park, owners of Bingu International Conference Centre.

Rosa Mbilizi  is deputy commissioner at Malawi Revenue Authority and is also board member of Malawi Olympic Committee.

Mbilizi’s blood sister, Mrs Janet Kamanga has won a K5 billion contract to supply metres at Escom, according to the reports and she has also a contract with Lilongwe Water Board where his brother is board chair.

Trade and Industry minister Joseph Mwanamvekha’s brother Reverend Mwanamvekha is now First Secretary at Kenya embassy whilst George Chaponda, minister of Agriculture has a dozen relatives, his wife’s relatives and friends in embassies.

Son and and daughters of ministers and DPP officials are also in embassies.

And most of top government positions are taken by people from Lhomwe tribe.