Chakwera bloats ‘leagues of advisors’ with Kunkuyu, Chibvunde and  Thyolela appointments: Analysts cautions

President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed two Malawi Congress Party (MCPP) members and a People’s Party (PP) vice president  as special advisers in his office overcrowding State House with   the inflation-busting league of advisors attracting criticism that most of the characters have nothing to tell him other than gossips.

Kunkuyu:  Presidential aide
Thyolera: Now presidential advisor
Chakwera with Chibvunde his political advisor

The three include former MPs Moses Kunkuyu, Maxwell Thyolera and  former president Joyce Banda’s loyalist as well as PP vice president for southern region Ephraim Chibvunde.

Kunkuyu, who is MCP campaign director, ,confirmed that he had been appointed presidential adviser on Chiefs and Rural Governance.

He  previously served as minister of information  in the government of  Joyce Banda between 2012 and 2014.

Kunkuyu said he will be  working in collaboration with  Ministry f Local Government and Rural Development to bring traditional leaders closer to Chakwera’s development agenda.

While Thyolera,  a former MP for  Lilongwe North East, has been appointed  Presidential Advisor on Parliamentray Affairs.

PP’s Chibvunde is Presidential Advisor in Political Affairs.

Confirming his new post, Chibvunde said: “I am immensely pleased to be part of President Chakwera’s transformation team.”

However, neither the Office of the President and Cabinet nor State Residences director of communications Sean Kampondeni could shed light on the new appointments.

But critics argue that Chakwera’s transformation leadership  focused on nation building in line with the Tonse Alliance campaign promises will be a lip service with his “shopping-spree of characters to appease.”

Ministers are, by nature of their vows, presidential advisors; and analysts say the President does not need a motley crew of pretenders to feed him with lies in the guise of ‘advice’.

Governance expert and commentator Makhumb Munthali called for caution on the appointment of presidential league of advisors, saying for a long tme their contribution has been questionable.

“I think we need to revisit the role of presidential advisors in the country to avoid duplicating their roles with some of the ministries around because where there is a line ministry then the role of the minister is being advisor to the President ,” Munthali said.

Chakwera earlier  appointed Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) chief executive officer Chancellor Kaferapanjira as his chief economic adviser and picked three others for other posts.

The President also appointed Dr. Samson Lembani as his chief adviser on public policy and governance.

Among others, Chakwera  also appointed Collen Zamba, an experienced economic adviser, as his chief adviser on Sustainable Development Goals and international relations.

In addition, the President has appointed Chris Chaima Banda, a development economist and long-serving British Civil Service technocrat, as his chief adviser on strategy and manifesto implementation.

Other advisors  Chakwera appointed include  Overstone Kondowe as special adviser on People Living with Albinism and Disability and Reverend Brian Kamwendo as special adviser on religions affairs, with Sheikh Hashim Abbas as his deputy.

The President also appointed Major Precious Mahara Gausi as assistant aide-de camp, Brian Banda as press secretary, Martha Chikuni as head of media and marketing and Solomon Kavuta as director of ICT.

The league of advisors has also  Adamson Mkandawire as Chief Advisor to the President on rural transformation and development while musician-cum-politician Lucius Banda is special adviser on arts and youth.

Presidential advisors are entitled 500 litres of fuel a month (about K400 000), a vehicle which they drive themselves, medical scheme and airtime, free water, free electricity, DStv subscription at a combined cost of almost K300 000 ($434), including a driver and guard who are also allocated about K100 000 ($145) on top of a salary of close to K1.6 million ($2 312), which translates to K25.6 million ($36, 994.21) a month for the 16, totalling K307 million ($443 641) annually.

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Mkati mopanda panti
Mkati mopanda panti
3 years ago

Chinthu chongosema, kuchipatsa ufumu. This is why there is chimpingo chimkwanyaya, chinamtindi cha ma wadvisors. People are fooled by the theatrics of this so called man of “gawd” to think he is actually an intellectual. You will be amazed to find out that the brain behind his presidency is actually Saulos Chilima and may be even the son inlaw since he keeps on talking about what man of gawd is going to do next. Malawians please stop putting too much faith, too much love into politicians they are all evil. Even the ones that come from a so called churches… Read more »

Ken Phiri
Ken Phiri
3 years ago

Why is Pres Chakwera appointing mostly MCP people only. The Tonse Alliance has 9 political parties.

We are not seeing any people from MAFUNDE, PETRA, Aford, Freedom Party, Katsonga’s Party etc. Even UTM and PP are just a handful while MCP has batallions. Why?

Was this Alliance well negotiated? It is clearly becoming a Tonse Alliance Government only in name.

Essentially it is an MCP Government. It is not looking good only 3 months into government.

Joseph phiri
Joseph phiri
3 years ago

We are employing people…. That’s the use of money to benefit people of malawi

ERUTU
ERUTU
3 years ago

🔥🐓🇲🇼💪🏿

Psyuta
3 years ago

Pedegu pachiongolero kikikik all these advisors for what?

Mbowe
Mbowe
3 years ago

Nothing to smile about the Nokha Alliance chani chani ukooo! Servant leadership? My foot! It was just f****n jealousy.

Samuel Chilenje
Samuel Chilenje
3 years ago

Sweet news Mr President . We need Minister of Pastors.

Mwinithako
Mwinithako
3 years ago

The likes of Ephraim Chibvunde,Bennet Boaz were very loyal to DPP under the leadership of Bingu waMutharika.Including Noel Masangwi,Moses Kunkuyu,Lewis Ngalande,Patricia Kaliati and Frank Timpale Mwenifumbo.Michael Usi inclusive ,they were people who were milking Leston Mulli,they worked for Mulli ,Michael Usi could even beg from Mulli for funds to his Ndikuferanji programme.This Bon Kalindo abale they came to beg from Mulli for their financial support .Anthu akumwera are typical traitors indeed .Betraying their own kinsmen sure.I am totally embarrassed by the acts of these Southern hooligans.I salute the poor chewas who cling to their MCP hereditrory party.They never mind even… Read more »

Psyuta
3 years ago
Reply to  Mwinithako

I support your reasoning. Southerners let’s unite. You have seen how chewas ganged up and started chasing us from Central Region, Lilongwe in particular. Southerners, let us unite with purpose.

Zio ine
Zio ine
3 years ago

He already admitted that he doesn’t know things..excuse him for he is dull

Medson
Medson
3 years ago

Hahahaha Mr President
Time to pay back what u promised them.
What about the voters some have students at public university,up to now no direction.
Yeni yeni Nyenkhwe.

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