Chilapondwa replaces Mia as Transport Minister
President Joyce Banda on Saturday promoted deputy Minister of Agriculture Ulemu Chilapondwa to the portfolio of Minister of Transport replacing Sidik Mia who resigned as Minister as well as from the ruling party where he was Vice President for Southern Region.
Mia conducted a news conference in Blantyre on Friday where he broke the news of his resignation.
President Banda who accepted the resignation and downplayed it’s impact swiftly moved to appoint Chilapondwa on the position.
But analysts described Mia’s resignation a political ‘body blow’ on President Banda coming as it does less than five months to crucial elections when Malawi’s first female president faces her first test at the polls.
“Mia’s resignation’s impact is bound to be significant since he was not only the vice president of the party but also one of its main financiers,” said University of Malawi Associate Law Professor Edge Kanyongolo.
Banda, the then vice president, rose to power following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012.
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