Chakwera defends his first Malawi cabinet appointments, denies it stinks of incest
President Lazarus Chakwera has defended his first cabinet appointments tainted by family ties which include a husband, wife and cousin, a brother and sister, and a brother and sister in law.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Chakwera said that he is listening attentively to the public critique about his cabinet and that he will address those concerns.
The Malawi leader said after meeting with the civil society groups Human Rights Defenders Coalition, he will see what he can do to take on board the public concerns.
“I will be addressing the nation tomorrow and I will tackle these (concerns),” he said.
Chakwera’s former running mate in the 2019 elections, Sidik Mia, will serve as the transport minister while his wife Abida will be the deputy minister for lands.
Danwood Chirwa, a professor of law at the University of Cape Town, described the nominations as “political patronage”, saying the president has “quickly transformed himself into a good salesman of words and rhetoric while serving the same stale dishes Malawians have fed on in the last 26 years”.
He further said argued that the entire cabinet “stinks of incest, and the smell is quite frankly unbearable. Not only has it been set up so that some families loot not just one ministry but two or more ministries.”
Put to him by BBC what people are voicing out about the Cabinet and in particular Chirwa’s comments, President Chakwera calmly said : “He has also not looked several factors of the youth in it , the women in it …”
In the 31-member Cabinet, the new labour and health ministers are brother and sister, Ken Kandodo and Khumbize Kandodo Chaponda while the incoming information minister Gospel Kazako is the sister-in-law of the new deputy agriculture minister Agness Nkusa Nkhoma.
“It is not a question of you appease this one or not, you know this is Malawi Congress Party whom am president and we have a Tonse Alliance which we are following Tonse philosophy,” said Chakwera.
Reacting to the issue of family members in the cabinet, such as husband and wife and brother and sister, Chakwera said the Mia family are appointed on their individual merit.
“They may have a point but you have also rightly observed both of them are accomplished politician. She is the only member of Parliament we have in the south,” Chakwera told BBC.
Governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali told Nyasa Times that it’s important that whatever was agreed in a Tonse Alliance pact should be subjected to the Constitution.
“Otherwise, simply using it as a sole a blue print (even in areas it contradicts Principles of National Policy as laid down in our Constitution) in making critical decisions may be recipe for disaster.
“Some of the mistakes made in the selection of Cabinet should have been avoided if there was some adherence to these principles. While being responsive and ‘listening’ to the people’s concerns is desirable and commendable especially if we consider where we coming from, the continued repeating of mistakes which can be easily avoided and then later reversing them after public pressure may also be a sign of weakness. It may indirectly send the message that the Presidency lacks the capacity and judgement to make right decisions. That in the short or long term may not reflect well on the Chakwera- Chilima presidency. ”
Munthali said while it’s good to commend Chakwera-Chilima presidency for being “listening”, the citizenry should also expect them to be proactive in making decisive, transformative decisions which they can collectively own in public interest and within the confines of the Constitution.
“Having said that, I liked the manner in which the President responded to Professor Danwood Mzikenge Chirwa critique of his Cabinet during BBC Focus on Africa interview with Peter Okocha.
“Unlike his predecessor who when handling such criticism on international media could tag such critics as mercenaries or agents of opposition, the President addressed the issues raised (of course not to my full satisfaction) by my respected Professor without attacking the personality of the Chirwa. To me that was refreshing. Otherwise, the President handled the BBC interview fairly well.”
Social activist Mkotama Katenga-Kaunda said the move was disappointing as the incumbent had promised: “This new Malawi will get rid of nepotism and cronyism.”
“Malawians feel that these cabinet posts were not awarded to some individuals based on merit, but based on what monetary support they gave to the alliance during the campaign,” he said.
Women’s rights campaigners welcomed more women in cabinet – a record 12 of 31 cabinet positions – which is the highest since Malawi’s first female head of state, Joyce Banda, appointed eight women in her cabinet in 2012.
But they criticised removing gender as a portfolio from the ministry for children and community development and the fact most women were appointed deputies rather than as ministers.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Holy fear at work!!
Malamulo a mmemo, osasonkha asadye
This government is not inspiring any hope at all. Too many blunders and too many U-turns. And Boma mwapereka kwa angongole ili. Just think of Newton kambala, and amwenye such as sidiki Mia, Mrs Mia, halima daudi, gaffer , chilima etc etc do you really think these business mafias are entering government to assist Malawians? I am worried with your choices Mr Chakwera. And are you really not ashamed that your choice of ministers based on family clusters shows how short-sighted you are? Chakwera’s is so far the worst start we have had of all presidents. Not impressive at all. please know that your success shall not be measured by how many people you shall arrest but rather how much hope you shall inspire. Fotseki MCP.
The tonse alliance will not last. I see confusion and a fights in the alliance
Mr President you would have asked Malawians to vote for Ministers, Shaaa. Mwemwe
Munya muona ine ndi president mpaka 2030 wo!
It will not be a sign of weakness for the president to do that which is right. The whole world has applauded the Malawian election as nearly the best in the world and its only fitting that the president lives to his promises and leaves an indelible mark for Africa to follow
When APM ignored the whole central region and northern region we kept quiet. We have Usi, Akweni, Gaffar, Abida, Sidik, Gospel, Roy Kachale, etc. Phokoso kapangeni ku Mangochi kwa agogo anu anawononga Malawi aja. We are in serious business to make Malawi great again.
Altaf Lazarus Mia uyu
People who invested should harvest
Watching from the distance….Thus African politics, no wonder.
Kuma Stands
Did anyone expected anything other than corruption, neopotism, and white-glove shameless theft from an African government? Oh, sweet innocent souls…
Makadeti anati ziiii pakatipa after kufafanthidwa pachisankho. Lero atuluka kuphanga chifukwa cha nkhani ya cabinet. Akuona ngati anthu ayamba kuwakonda.. Issue ya cabient idutsa and the presdent will dicharge his duties very well to the point that DPP will never be relevant any soon.
Let us have the cabinet APM appointed after winning the 2014 election. He chose one person from the central region in Dr Kalirani and 2 people only from the North. The rest were from here in the South ndiye why are we now crying wolf? We lost it by allowing APM to rape other regions without condemning him. Malawi is for everyone and not for just Lhomwe people.Revist the form one selection list and we wiil know that it was all about Lhomwe Lhomwe Lhomwe. Mullu stole our hard earned tax money without remorse and we never condemned it.We are losers because we failed to condemn APM when he disregarded all other tribes.
Yes this is what we are against!!!!
It’s contrary to what he promised during the campaign
Constructive criticism by Mr Munthali. I would be glad if the president put this into consideration.
It is only fools and liars who will hope mercy from degenerate criminals. Politics of appeasement are the reason why Africa is where it is now. I can’t blame the politicians, but the the people who elected these crooked politicians. People don’t get into politics to develop the country. No! They get into politics to enrich themselves
The is how it resurfaces when your friend is on the ground fighting and you are watching and you think is is easy – but now when it is your turn you start scratching your head after being hammered by heavy blows.. Dr. Chakwera you should admit you are far away from being a President – Malawi uyu wakukulira!!! it is not easy to manage 18million people. You thought APM was a failure but here you are now just 10 days of being in office now you have already started making blunders, When you start feeling the heat of your own people it’s when you will know that it’s not pada. kkkkk!!!! this is just the beggining usovenge….kkkkk.
APM was not only a failure but also a tribalist and a thief. He will soon be arrested to explain how he got 900billion kwacha he used to order goods which was then allowed in the country tax-free.
Get lost! Chakwera is the President of Republic of Malawi
chakwera can do nothing. these are gupta version of malawi. he mortgaged this country to these loan sharks and they need to recover their money.
Saulos ali pheeee kudya mapulani. He can see an opening which he can utilise to land serious and fatal blows to this alliance. The Third Republic is crumbling
Yes Chilima be on the watch mbiri yako iyipa but if u take time as u did with APM mpaka 4 yrs then u quit ndiye ugwa nayo but this is time that u should come out of your cacoon and critise this nonsense before its too late. Malawians will not hold on to this if he maintains the cabinet then will go to streets until the will of malaiwans be done as was the case with previous regime. On 23rd June 2020 we spoke thru vote so be careful a malawi ake ndife tomwe sitinasinthe and will do the needful
He lied to us that he will make a listening government, he lied to us that he will introduce universal subsidy of fertilizer, he promised Malawians that tonse alliance is for all of us, no nepotism in short no corruption. One might question my comment , What corruption Mr president and his team committed? lets start by defining corruption. corruption can be defined as a process by which a word or expression is changed from its original state to one regarded as erroneous and debased. From this definition you can see how new regime is becoming corrupt. Tonse alliance led by Mr Chakwera collectd bribes in form of financial support which propelled them into power. on might say they borrowed money on good faith, yes they did but tax payers were not part of the deal so it could be better if Mr president find other ways of paying back these money but not use taxpayer’s money. Mr president is rewarding ministerial positions to people as one way of paying back ngongole and shameless claiming that those appointments are on merits. Thus being dishonest a clear corruption act. Question is , if today shamelessly Mr Chakwera decide to go public to defend his sinful acts like this what will happen when they start awarding each other contracts ? Fellow Malawians we are in for another impunity
DPP kulira boma inalandidwa and no more freebies and Lhomwe dynasty in all parastatals will soon be dismantled. Ntchito kumangolembana nokha nokha ngati Malawi ndiwanu yekha? Anthu opusa kwambiri.
Inunsotu mulira dont think APM timadana naye and kukonda inu than him NO! this is our country and leave dpp alone dpp is not malawians its malawians who vote as we did on 23rd June 2020. Mtambo wapita kuboma kadya nawo we dont care ife will rise up and fight after all Mtamboyo/Chilima/Chakwera anatiphunzitsa kulimba mtima kale so what can stop us now?????????
Go a head, who is stopping you?
If Abusa Mia was appointed because she is the only MCP MP in the south, then her husband should have been left out. This cabinet must be dissolved before it is sworn in, otherwise we will take to the streets
Why already? Is Abusa i suffering from dementia.? He has forgotten that he has 2 MCP mps in the south. The other one is even very young
She was involved in campaigning using her own resources whereas all of us were busy buying sausages and eating like there is jo tomorrow.
Ndi zomwe tikukanazo so whats the difference with dpp which u have been accusing? Iwe ndiwe wachamba kwambiri. Supporting the party does not mean thru financing only NO! We too have been going to streets to fight for freedom, we voted so we are equally important. Ife we are not why was Lazarus campaigning and ananena kuti ife ndiye mabwana iwowo akhala akapolo athu ndiye achite ife mabwanafe tanena apo biii chakwera get ready for chaaos mdziko mmuno monga zinalili it time of APM izo ndiye udziwiretu we will not keep quiet at all! Thats total stupidity!!!!
Chakwela sangalithe dziko lino
Monga alipamenepo kamba kaChilima
Akumpoto ndi ena akumwela anamuvotela Chakwela chifukwa mmagazi mwawo mumaendaenda Chilima
Malawi us poorer than how APM found it. APM failed as a minister of education. Failed as a minister of foreign affairs and failed as a president. APM is a thief and soon he will have his day in court.
I support Tonse Alliance but what Boss you have done is not acceptable, we can conclude that this was one of the alliance conditions but at least you could have rewarded others in different positions based on the fact that they have done good work during the campaign rather than putting them just like that. We accept your point that you have appointed them based on the individual merit, but put them in different positions rather. Mr. President you can not make everyone happy but at least you can do something for everyone to appreciate. We love you, Mr. President, no matter what critics but we are together in Tonse Alliance we just need to point out what is not right. I raise my case, Sir.
Exactly the response from a president filled with pride and a crook.
How about APM? Did he fire Ansah?
I appreciate of what CHAKWERA & and his team has done, but only the problem is what my fellow brothers and sisters you are saying but lets hope GOD should guide him and protect him so that no PROTESTING to be occur as he is going along with his position. GOD bless MALAWI
In all fairness Mr President you are confortable having family ministers, serious? What has bewitched you? Mind you dont think malawians were against APM but what was happening in his regime likewise today malawians are not against you but what has happened so if you peace in this country drop either sidik or abida, kandodo or khumbize minus that then mukukalasula moto kudambwe. I want to remind you kuti tinali limodzi ku ma demo dzana and timathamangira limodzi where you told us tisamaope for this is our country and today would like to tell you will go to streets until nyansi izi zithe chifukwa za ku nsewu and ku court ndiye kudya kwathu ndi zomwe mwatiphunzitsa dzana lija so choose one whether you peaceful malawi or violent malawi!
I feel sorry for MCP. Its in alliance with not so good friends. If you look at most of the vocal social media commentators who are against the cabinet list almost all of them are UTM supporters, yet their president was part of its formation. Surprisingly again he has decided to remain quite. Why can’t he issue a press statement in support of his boss or he is waiting for a call from VOA to give first reaction?
Please, stop this backstabbing its too early in the relationship.
Wongani Chiuta and your editorial team at Nyasatimes, do you know the meaning of incest? “sexual relations between people classed as being too closely related to marry each other.
the crime of having sexual intercourse with a parent, child, sibling, or grandchild.”
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CABINET, I TRUST THAT CHILIMA KNOWS THE CABINET WILL DELIVER.
MY ONLY PLEA TO THE LEADERS IS TO END AND DEAL WITH CORRUPTION SUSPECTS.
I LEST MY CASE.
Once a politician’s always politician
I know the president had advisors who are paid to that. My advice is free. Are the ministers there for nothing? I thought they are there to work for the people. As long as Malawians see changes from the brutal leadership of APM, they will be satisfied. Khumbize and Ken are sister and brother but they have their own lives. While Ken worked with dpp and PP, Khumbize stayed with MCP. We have to look at that as well. We are in politics and MCP needs Kasungu. MCP needs Lilongwe. MCP needs Nsanje. MCP needs Mulanje. MCP needs Zomba. MCP needs Chikwawa. MCP needs Chitipa. MCP needs Mzimba. MCP needs Dedza. We cannot please everybody in life. We please Malawians with development. Malawians need good roads. Malawians need good schools. Malawians need good hospitals. Kamuzu never pleased fellow politicians but please most Malawians. If Chakwera wants to appease politicians and not Malawians he will be in trouble. Bingu did not listen to CHakuamba. He fired him. Bingu did not appease Chakufwa Chihana. He fired him. Bingu did not appease Bakili Muluzii. He arrested him. Kamuzu did not appease Orton Chirwa. He went into exile. Kamuzu did not appease Kanyama Chiume. He was sent into exile. Malawians are good at making noise. Just fix the schools, hospitals, roads, corruption, etc the noise will die down. Tell the nation about this. Ministers can be hired and fired any time. Ministers should be told about this. When a child is learning to walk it stumbles and later gains stability. This is what any new government goes through. Thank you HE for listening.
Kamuzu banda must be very happy with chakwera not falling far away from the chewa tree. This president is a chip off the old block, he is not the change we prayed for
Ok tamva tisankhanso next week ena,osadanda
Our Malawi eish
Mr president my brother in christ, there is nothing to defend, accept and go back to the drawing board. Let the spirit guard you to ask assistance from the ringt minds. The job ahead of us requires corporate prayers. Yestarday I cried in prayer the way I did during campaign for change. Be assured am not ge only one. These prayers will have effects in your leadership even health. Remember Sòul was still king while the annointing was with David. Be careful my brother you can die soon. Serve the nation not individuals. Am worried about the gravity of incompetence you have demonstrated. Serious failure is the composition of ministries. Where are we going and what are we addressing.? Please restructure the ministries again. We dont stop or block the river, we redirect it. There is nothing new in this world. Key thematic areas are; education, health agriculture/irrigation and energy with overaching economic development and transport and public works. At this stage we need top norch people who can speak and think at the same time, those who should lead from the front. Forgeting gender/disability was grave error, correct it. When considering as you have promised, American president was asked, how do you manage the American nation, his response was; I staff key areas. Please my brother, we are seriously praying for liberation of our people, staff key areas with stars of the soil, they will help you. We will buy cheap fertilizer for our relations but we will not be happy paying for unnecessary huge cabinet with tired and incompetent people. Give them something to do. Once again my brother be careful we are praying.
My Point Is Simple And Straight Forward. As Long As DPP Is Out Of Government, I Am Okay And Fine. I Thank God For This. I Have Never Ever Seen An Evil Party As Of DPP Government.
Iwe Nambewe comment about the issue at hand.
Walakwa pati? Some of us we are just happy for that! What is your problem?
Akufuna apeleke ngongole zakatapilazo.The denial is unacceptable.
Malawians, Ministers does not generate Money to boost economy, if Chakwera has chosen these people, he has done well, Ministers should not be the ones who are craving for money but those who can serve the Nation! In 26 years Ministers who are Politicians are the ones who have been destroying Civil Services because their period is very short (5) years. Some they think they may not make it again.
Chakwera has chosen whom he can trust!
I think if it was an issue of ministerial post, may be you need to check which Ministry is so much important and it needs who to lead it! Not just oppose everything, he will cralify it to you very soon. Ndiye pafunikso kuti tivomeleze kuti Chakwera walitenga Dziko ili litakasuka kwa zaka zochuluka koopsa! Nduna za Boma zikumaba osati masewela,, koma ulendo uno sipapezeka yemwe angabe and these are the people!
Kuteloko ambiri a inu,chimene mukuona ndi kuba komwe kwakhala kukuchitika ndipo mukuona kuti banja limodzi azitebela onse? Kikkkkkkk! Malawi yalanditsidwa ku mchitidwe umenewo, ndipo Police igwila ntchito yake bwino. Inu mukuchedwa ndi kasankhidwe ka ma unduna,pamene MRA imene imapanga ndalama potolera misonkho yakhadzulidwa ndi anthu wamba! You see, Ministers just use the money not generate Money, so you are worried with just useless people here!
Dear Mr. President, The issue about the new cabinet is not whether it can deliver, it is a matter of principle. Having the privilege to study security for organizations, security 101 disapproves relations work in the same organization, later own husband and wife. IT CREATES A TOXIC FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ABUSE OF OFFICE. No matter how many controls you put in place, when push comes to shove, blood is thicker than water. As one of the expectations for many Malawians for this new government is securing public resources, it is the president’s due diligence to create a secure working atmosphere for ministers and government officials. No matter how you try to convince the nation that the appointments are based on merit, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is a duck – or it will soon hatch into a duck!!!!🤔🤔🤔🤔
We are doomed.i can see a leadership riddled with arrogance.again,our biggest problems corruption and nepotism are here to stay.if he does not see any problem with his appointments,malawi is in trouble.
Appeasement at its best 😏 😏😏
It’s too early to start digging your own grave Mr. President. People’s wounds haven’t yet healed from this nonsense! Simulimva kukoma kulamuliratu dzikoli if at all you will govern it with the way you have started. Tread carefully, Malawians are watching
Generally a President anayakhadi bwino mafuso pa BBC. Pempho langa kwa abale anthu a DPP chonde polani moto ino ndi nthawi yokoza chipani chanu mukamati mulimbane kwambiri ndi Tonse Alliance muzazindikila dela lanu la alomwe lomwe mukudarilayo atakuloweleraniko ino ndi nthawi yoti mukonze chipani chanu, izi ndanena chifukwa zikuoneselatu kuti mwatengelapo mpata kufuna kubwelesa pungwepungwe pa nkhani iyiyi ndiye paja amati nkhonya yobwezela imawawa.
Ministers reports to the President! It possible Gospel Kazako to work with the Government while running his Radio, let history be created.
It is possible Mia and his wife work together,let history judge them!
Kandodos,they can do it, let history judge them, Malawians! They are Malawians and they will deliver! These people are to report to the President, while DPP was sending the spouse and nephews in Embassies to steal from you under your watch! The Chakwera and Chilima will be judged very soon! By the way is it because we have known Ministers as thieves that is why any Minister chosen by Chakwera is one of them? I for one, I want to hear nothing but the word go to corruption! Regionalism, Neptism, Tribalism! Let’s feel the pain we created ourselves 26 years ago!
Kodi why is most of this article copy and paste from Facebook in quotes instead of reporting of facts? Presented in this manner you are hand picking opinions rather then confirming to readers that you as journalists have fact checked the truthfulness of the comments so they can be presented without quotations.
I listened to him the guy sounds disparate and completely captured by these Malawi Gupta families. These people spend money to help the cashless and block reverend to campaign and they need to be rewarded.
How easy it is to claim nepotism when the next person is doing it and denying it when you are doing it. Pastor you are now showing us who you really are. Please sober up and listen to what Malawians are telling you. This is exactly what led to the downfall of your predecessor. How can you have 71% from your tribe and say it’s not nepotism. Call a spade a spade. Sober up and do what is right. Don’t be a puppet because it’s obvious that Malawi is being led by other people behind the scenes.
Kungovomereza kuti it was easy pointing fingers pano zagwera pa mphuno!
Go on defending the indefensible. Come next elections you will know who the voters are: who the true bosses are. These incestous cabinet appointments are being roundly condemned by almost everyone countrywide. 2024/ 25 is not far away. Go and ask DPP the effect of similar arrogance and impunity. The voters are telling you “this stinks” and you are saying it is meritorious! Ok go ahead. We will meet soon. We are voters. We speak through the ballot box.
Chakwera is a certified total idiot!
It’s so disappointing. I must say so myself as one who voted for Tonse alliance.
When the president says he will address the nation on this issue, am not sure what exactly would that be of benefit to the nation coz for as long as these appointments stand, no matter how much he tries to justifies the appointments, this doesn’t sit ethically right. There are just so many things that are not right of which can’t be addressed just by the president addressing the nation:
1. The issue of family appointments – there so many people in this country, how can the president limit his appointments to single families as if they are the only competent ones by DNA evidence.
2. The percentage of ministers from the central region is shockingly high. The whole nation was up in arms against DPP calling out their nepotism and regionalism tendencies, but on a scale of comparison, the current president has now managed to surpass DPP on these very topic that made the nation hate DPP for.
3. Kaliati – am not going to even write much about her appointment. The bottom line is, she shouldn’t be there at all. Look, everyone knows that she only took arms against APM for personal reasons. She shouldn’t be a minister of anything at all. Do you really want to tell me that she is the most fitting woman in Malawi? This appointment is an insult to the fitting women of Malawi, to which there are many – Kaliati Must Go!
Now, what’s the president going to tell us that would address these issues. Unless he tells that he will reconsider the appointments, then the state address is just a waste of time. If the state of address is to justify these clear ill appointments, then we are doomed before we even start.