Malawi Minister ousted for straight talk with Mutharika: Rev Ndau says ‘have I  become your enemy by speaking the truth’

Fired Minister of Information and communication Technology, Reverend Malison Ndau has said President Peter Mutharika might have relieved him from the 20 member cabinet for telling the truth.

Ndau told a radio station on Wednesday that as much as Mutharika is a politically sober person, his close allies are highly politically associates who might not have liked the former minister’s straight forward truthful statements.

“I think my honesty has cost me the job. The President is not into much politics but those who surround him,” said Ndau.

Mutharika made a surprise cabinet shake up recently in which the only casualty is Ndau, who was immediately replaced by former state spy chief Nicholas Dausi.

The President is not obliged to give reasons for hiring and firing cabinet ministers.

Ndau said Malawi is not developing because of politicking, gossiping and  witchhunting.

“We have talented Malawians who can develop Malawi but they cannot be appointed to positions, are not given chance to develop their country because of politicking,” said Ndau who is Ntcheu Central legislator .

He dismissed speculations that he might have been dismissed from his job because of comments he made on Access to Information Bill which might not have pleased Mutharika.

Ndau said as a Man of God he sticks to speaking the truth and that sets him free.

Quoting the Holy Bible in Galatians 4:16, Ndau said: “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”

Political and social commentator Boniface Dulani of the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College said for Ndau to just be dropped out of Cabinet in the manner Mutharika has done is  rare and “something must have happened.”

He said President Mutharika “ needs to explain to Malawians, publicly, why he felt it necessary to dismiss him just so suddenly.”

Ndau was appointed Minister of ICT on September 6 this year, replacing Patricia Kaliati who was deployed to the newly formed Ministry of Civic Education, Culture and Community Services in a minor reshuffle.

The new government spokesman Dausi, a long time Malawi Congress Party (MCP) stalwart who at some point closely worked for founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda, has previously served as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson. In June 2014, Mutharika appointed Dausi as director of the NIB, replacing former police chief Joseph Aironi who was engaged by his predecessor Joyce Banda.