Chakwera unmoved on cabinet: Malawi ministers on 5 months probation
President Lazarus Chakwera has said he will not change the appointment of a faulted Cabinet, saying he has assembled a capable team, appointed on merit and one which equates with the Tonse Philosophy in a five-months transition in which to prove to Malawians that change has come.
Among the appointments that appear to have rattled the public are the new deputy minister for lands, Abida Sidik Mia, who is married to the vice-president of the president’s party, Mohammed Sidik Mia, who is now also the transport minister; the new minister of industry, Roy Kachale, who is the son of former president Joyce Banda; and the new ministers of health and labour, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda and Ken Kandodo Banda, who are siblings and are related to Malawi’s founding president, Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
Critics have also noted various conflicts of interest: the new minister of mining Rashid ‘Rashy’ Gaffer comes from a family that owns mines; the new minister of information Gospel Kazako owns a major broadcasting network Zodiak (and is the sister-in-law of the new deputy agriculture minister) Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma.
Some of the concerns included that the cabinet comprises majority from the central region, which is the strong hold of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the party Chakwera leads.
President Chakwera on Friday gave a speech to respond to the concerns, saying that all appointments were made on merit alone.
“I want to assure all Malawians that in making any appointments, I will never consider what family or region one comes from nor whom one is married to. I believe that a just society is not only one in which familial, regional and marital ties do not qualify you for service, but also one in which those ties do not disqualify you for service. The only thing that counts is merit,” said Chakwera.
He assured the country that this time would be different.
Speaking directly to his new cabinet ministers, he said: “I want you to hear me and to hear me clearly …You each have five months to produce results that will give Malawians confidence that change has come. Should you prove the sceptics right by being lazy, abusive, wasteful, arrogant, extravagant, divisive and corrupt, I will not hesitate to have you replaced.”
Chakwera said to be a minister of government is to accept the responsibility of national and political leadership.
“That responsibility should only be offered to someone on merit, where merit means a proven track record to lead people effectively in producing results in the face of formidable odds and political complexities.
“There is no one on this Cabinet who does not pass that test,” said Chakwera.
The six political parties that are Tonse Alliance partners but have, thus, not been considered in the appointments made so far include Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde), Umodzi Party (UP), People’s Progressive Movement (PPM), People’s Transformation Party (Petra) and Freedom Party (FP).
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I think a deciding factor of an inclusive administration should be:
CONSIDERATION = REGION_OF_ORIGIN AND MERIT AND FREQUENCY
Here is how to expand and apply it:
Is a candidate from one of [Southern, Central, Northern], if yes, what is the percentage of such origins in the post? Does the candidate have the merit?
The economy of this country cannot support 31 cabinet members. Learn from APM; he maintained a lean cabinet of 20. There was good reason why he maintained a small cabinet. 20 seems to me to be the right number. Cabinet is not meant to be a mass rally please.
Yes APM had a cabinet of 20, but he had just as many ‘special advisors’….anthuwa zawo ndi zimozi
Many people have commented on the cabinet. Let me add my voice to this matter. I am a bona fide citizen and hence entitled to have a say. To begin with i am happy that we kicked out DPP looters, thieves, crooks and criminals. Congratulations are in order to the Tonse Alliance. The work of prosecuting the looters and cooks should progress quickly so that our money can be fully recovered and used for the country’s socio-economic development The cabinet announced and sworn in by President Chakwera is a big let down. Dissapointing. My vote in the next elections will… Read more »
I agree, I have also taken the same stand, they have started with arrogance and they don’t deserve our votes in 2025 honestly
Compulsory question: Giving evidence where necessary, argue for or against the statement made by Chakwera that merit belongs to central region only (20 marks)
Less than a month in office and executive arrogance is already evident. Kutathele zaka zisanu? Ayi tiziona.
We told you that just give thus reverend power and you will see that he is very arrogant. In the coming days he will reveal most of his true colours.
Who is more arrogant, Chakwera of Mathanyula?
Be serious gentlemen and ladies! Do you see only central region on the cabinet list? For once, show some seriousness. Besides, let’s give the cabinet time to perform! This is all we want. If they will not perform, they’ll be replaced!
70% of cabinet is from central region. Population wise, central region is less than 40%. This is contrary to the spirit of onclusive government. You can’t give 70% of cabinet to central region alone which has less than 40% of populatipn, but giving onlu 30% of vabinet tp the remaining over 60% No one should defend such stupidity.
We have 36% of Malawi population (from central region) taking 70% of the cabinet positions, while the huge remaing 64% of the population gets 30% of the cabinet. Does that make sense to you?
I totally support the President. This is a good move indeed. No one is greater than family. Thanks and hope for peace and salvation.
So only central region has people with merit? We will see.
beautiful indeed…. but now after this is done it is time to clear the rubble left by dpp, no honeymoon time. we have wasted the past six years to theft, the muthalika years of reign (both Muthalikas) will be remembered as LOST YEARS OF MALAWI’S HISTORY……I think I should write a book. In fact it should be “26 YEARS OF DARK HISTORY IN MALAWI”
another book should be – apart from Kamuzu, all the past presidents never really won an election in Malawi, so the book will be titlled “NOW WE KNOW”
An apologist! Tonselitis victim. Mukubvabe pain ndi DPP. Muchira