Malawi Cabinet dissolved ahead of elections: Analysts commend Mutharika for delivering on cost-saving 20 ministers
Two of the country’s well-known political analysts have hailed President Peter Mutharika for maintaining a lean Cabinet since he took over the reins of power five years ago, saying the stint has saved Malawi’s fragile economy billions of taxpayers’ resources.
Mutharika, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 95 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, dissolved the Cabinet with effect from Wednesday, May 15 ahead of the Tripartite Elections.
Malawians go to the polls next Tuesday on May 21 to elect members of parliament, local government councillors and President.
A statement signed by chief secretary to government, Lloyd Muhara, said “following the dissolution of Cabinet and until the appointment of a new Cabinet, all Ministerial powers, functions and responsibilities shall vest in and be exercised by His Excellency the President.”
The statement further said “all queries or matters should be directed to the Office of the President and Cabinet.”
And in separate interviews with Nyasa Times on Wednesday, George Phiri, of the University of Livingstonia and Professor Mustapha Hussein of Chancellor College heaped praise on Mutharika for not being “extravagant” with his cabinet.
Said Phiri: “His [Mutharika] decision to maintain a lean cabinet is most commendable. It has obviously saved the country a lot of resources because it costs millions if not billions to run a cabinet even for just a week. And, it is more commendable that the dissolution has happened in good time; that is, days before the elections.”
But Phiri warned that government and powers-that-be should put strict measures so that the members of the dissolved cabinet do not commit any foul play during the transition period.
“This is a time when some [members of the dissolved cabinet] can take advantage and loot government of its resources through dubious means, so those responsible in this transition should be extra watchful,” said Phiri.
In his remarks, Hussein corroborated with Phiri saying Mutharika had said Malawi’s fragile economy a great deal.
“At least for the first time we had a small cabinet that saved this country a lot of resources. We have not had like those other cabinets that literally drained billions of kwacha at the expense of taxpayers. He [Mutharika] stuck to his pledge on maintaining the cabinet, and this is most commendable. I hope the resources were being channeled to other equally important government business,” said Hussein.
During his campaign, prior to his May 2014 election as state president, Mutharika had promised maintaining a lean cabinet as one of his measures to control government expenditure.
Political observers say if Mutharika gets re-elected, he will ring changes to his new Cabinet which will see most of the former ministers left out.
Recently, DPP vice-president for the North, Goodall Gondwe, revealed the anxiety he faces as his party campaigns to retain power in what is expected to be a highly contested election.
In his quoted reporte din the press during a speech at the European Union Day in Lilongwe last Friday night, Gondwe described himself as an ‘endangered species’.
“I have a confession to make. Very late yesterday, when His Excellency [Peter Mutharika] asked me to be here, being a much endangered species that I am now—not knowing what will happen to me on May 21—whether my party wins or not, I am still an endangered species.
“And when he asked me to be here, I wondered what could be in his head. Is he trying to tell me that for the last time I will represent my country or he still has confidence in me? So, people in my position have a lot of things to think about these days. Your Excellency, talked about elections…I can assure you when it concerns you it is not as exciting as you made it clear,” said Gondwe amid laughter and murmurs.
Gondwe painted a picture of how hard the DPP is working to retain power. He said for the past two months he has not done anything else but going round canvassing for votes. But even with this effort, according to Gondwe, he is not so certain if his party will win or not.
“I always try to see, to gauge what these people are thinking – will they support my party or not. They never give you an indication. These are anxious days for me and a number of other people,” he added.
The DPP has three main rivals in this election—Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which is in alliance with former president Joyce Banda’s People’s Party (PP) and Freedom Party (PP), Vice-President Saulos Chilima’s UTM and the United Democratic Front which has Minister of Health Atupele Muluzi as its torchbearer.
In 2014, DPP made a 36.4 percent surprise presidential votes win from the opposition, beating incumbent president Joyce Banda whose People’s Party (PP) came third. MCP came second, with a difference of about 400 000 votes.
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A small cabinet that has stolen One trillion Malawi Kwacha imagine that Mr. Hussein it does not make sense please. This is wasteful govt ever in Malawi.
Koma a Getuludi mumadya kumeneko inu? Kukhalira kuphoda basi. Munasowapo chiyani mmagazi mwanu? Mukungowondera wondera. First lady adziwoneka. Look at the pictures of Mama in the 1970s and 1980s. Adali ndi thupi labwino.
NOW LETS WATCh OUT THAT THE MINISTERS DO NOT USE THE PUBLIC VXs for campaign and the MANY ADVISORS DO NOT STEAL PUBLIC VEHICLES.
The DPP is full of looters!!!
Mbava zipume sha mapazi anu
Can Goodall really say that he’s not sure of his party winning? Yes the competition will be rife and Yes it may be anyone’s game but GG did he say that.
Mbava izi kuba kokha kokha a saver chiyani?
Small cabinet for best stealing. Easy to share
Good riddance. I hope none returns, after all none made their own decisions, even APM never did. Chisale and “you know who” called the tunes.
Look at the picture of the two ghosts. Adad plain umomo? Mpake kumayankhula zosamveka. Anyway at 80 anthu tidzati old age koma…… Tiyenazoni.
Nonsense he had blindforded us, by spending less in cabinet and spend more through corrupt activities.
GOOD! GIVE THEM TIME TO START PACKING
Well done Mr. President you really deserve my VOTE may God bless you.
Am I such a lucky guy! I know how to read and……………..think.
Cost saving my foot!Ask those in the govt how the leen cabinet has milked the already thin cow.Our analysts are an eye sore.
PALIBE WASEVA NDALAMA ZONSE ZIMENE ABA KUZERA MUMA DUBIOUS CONTRACTS MUZITI ASEVA….SHUPIT
WHY COMENTING TO THOSE BIG THIEVES
So called political commentators why didn’t you not see that he had increased and maintained the number of advisors. How much did it cost to maintain the advisors? He actually dug a new trench and filled an old one. So you couldn’t see the new trench? The man is clever he might read Animal Farm and knew how the pigs fooled other animals.
i retract my comment.you are right.
Malawi political commentators are Bullshitters
big ones
I support the president here.he kept his promise at the same its first time in recent history that we had a lean Cabinet.Indeed as long as the money was put into proper use.
MUSAIWALE KUTI MA ADVISORS NAWOSO AMALANDIRA NGATI MA MINISTERS AND YOU SAY WASEVA……ALL THOSE ADVISERS WERE PART OF CABNET,MWACHIDULE PRESIDENT YEKHAYO AMENE ANALI NDI NDUNA ZAMBIRI MU MBIRI YA DZIKO LA MALAWI…DEMETI
and appointed several advisors who had perks like Ministers you fool
Political analysts praising a thief….. If he had the nation at heart, would he be entertaining Karim and his friends who were bribing him? He may even have been pocketing what the other ministers would have received
Don’t forget that another thief has been receiving salary, living in government house and using government security without working for it for year! Mbava zonse regardless of colours out!
Musova. Anzanu akuyamikira. Nkhwidzi basi.
I agree with Gondwe. Indeed these are very difficult times. MCP, DPP, UTM , UDF are all confident of winning. Will see, Koma it will be pure madness to bring back MCP. In my view, and l say this with open mind, I would not want MCP to get back to government, l have difficulties to trust them. If no other party wins, then we have no choice but to get stuck with with this Corrupt party. MCP, not in my life time please!!!!
Bwampini Usovenge. Either you like it or not but the actual facts on the ground is that Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is winning.
true
Lero Chakwela amapanga whistle stop pa Chimbiya kunena zoona zimaoneka ngati pali shadow Mp osati President wachipani. Pokhapo ndaona kuti SKC sizocheza kukhani yachikoka cha anthu. Ambuye adalise Malawi atipase mtsogoleri wokonda dziko lake pa 21 May pano
If it was only you voting your silly wish could have come to pass.
koma ndiwedi bwampini. Your name says that it all. Wait for Malawi to vote
Cost saving kuti, kungakhalira kuba basi.
Exactly. cost saving ilipati anthu okuti angokhalila kuba
Forget of MCP going into govt ,ruthless killers and thougthless mind of going to grave of a person they killed. DDP Boma kale!!!!
It s your father and mother who are ruthless killers. Is Henry Musa, Peter Mutharika, Hetherwick Ntaba, Norman Chisale in MCP? Zianthu zokudya anthu anzawo achi alubino kutafuna ndi mafupa omwe zoti chi Mutharika dzino ndi limodzi mkamwa osadziwika. Mfiti zakozi plus Chilima mbava ya mavoti mwaononga dziko la Malawi. I am happy with how DPP treated Chilima, he thought he was being clever by stealing votes and God dealt with him, shupit m’bunu.
Oh please! Koma anthu enanu muli M`malawi momwe muno? Clean cabinet indeed!