Malawi opposition leader trashes new ‘betrayal’ Cabinet

As Malawians continue to digest the 31-member cabinet announced by President Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa has described the new cabinet as “betrayal of people’s trust” in the new administration.

Leader of opposition Nankhumwa: President Chakwera had failed in the ‘Tonse Philosophy’ by appointing cronies and family members and favouring people from central region at the expense of national unity and merit.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Nyasa Times from Blantyre, Nankhumwa said President Chakwera had failed in the ‘Tonse Philosophy’ by appointing cronies and family members and favouring people from central region at the expense of national unity and merit.

“It is an appeasement cabinet. Instead of doing things ‘unusual’ as he promised during his inaugural address on 6th July, 2020, he is doing things ‘as usual’. This is probably the worst cabinet that Malawians have ever seen. It is simply not representative,” said Nankhumwa.

The soft-spoken politician, who served as Leader of Government in Parliament in the previous DPP administration, said President Chakwera has placed selfish interests of the MCP and its major partner UTM of Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima ahead of the interests of the people Malawi.

“I am sorry to say that President Chakwera has chosen to please his loyalists in MCP and a few others from UTM over the future of the country. It is completely unacceptable for the President to choose members from same families, including a couple, as cabinet ministers when he promised a collective approach to governance.

“Cabinet is a national cake, which must be seen to be shared equally. As opposition, we expected President Chakwera to appoint a cabinet that would reflect his pledge to re-unite Malawians against a backdrop of recent serious tribal, ethnic and regional divisions. The reaction of people out here is that of disappointment and consternation,” said Nankhumwa, who is also opposition DPP’s Vice President for the South.

The Leader of Opposition also observed “a blatant misplacement of talent” in the composition of the new cabinet. He said for example, as the world grapples with the Coronavirus global pandemic, the President ought to have appointed a medical expert as Health minister to co-ordinate government efforts in managing this health crisis.

Nankhumwa also observed that some traditional ministries have either been omitted inadvertently or purposely scrapped off such as Water and Irrigation, Gender and Women Empowerment, Disability and the Elderly, Disaster Preparedness and Response.

“Inclusion of these as stand-alone ministries would have made more sense than disaggregating Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, Ministry of Mining and Energy,” said Nankhumwa.

In conclusion, Nankhumwa said he was well aware that President Chakwera has the prerogative to appoint cabinet ministers. However, the duty of opposition will be to monitor the performance of the new cabinet, individually and collectively, against specific outcomes.

“Where we notice underperformance, abuse of office and other unbecoming conduct, we will not sit back and watch in silence but publicly criticize such under performance and misconduct.

“The DPP administration under President Professor Arthur Mutharika made a lot of noticeable strides in social and economic development of the country and improving people’s lives. We will therefore draw from that experience to provide checks and balances to the new government to ensure that only representative policies are implemented for the benefit of all Malawians regardless of region, tribe, creed or colour,” he said.

Law expert Danwood Chirwa also observed that  “questionable characters” have been handed posts and that “there’s is evidence of pay for play”, and some new dubious ministries have been created while key ones such as for gender and children affairs have been omitted.

“The electorate voted for change, but this new cabinet lacks novelty. It is definitely uninspiring, if not disappointing,” said Chirwa.

He said he first cabinet was meant to send a clear message to all and sundry that patronage, corruption and looting will end, that those who have looted before will be investigated and prosecuted, and that new, clean and competent people will lead Malawi.

But said the new cabinet fails to meet the cut.

In a statement issued prior to the appointments, Chakwera said he and vice-president Saulos  Chilima had a tough time to come up with the Cabinet as there were many capable individuals who could not all be taken on board.

The President then disclosed that others will be given other responsibilities as “the work of draining the swamp, clearing the rubble, overhauling the rotten systems of the state and building new systems cannot be the preserve of Cabinet ministers alone”.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
72 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Super Duper
Super Duper
3 years ago

Corruption is our curse. They are just badly as corrupt as DPP. Looking out for each other and not for Malawian people is the unfortunate tradition at play here! Somebody tell me how competent to run a government can Patricia Kaliati be! It’s laughable!

Kambewa Chisale
3 years ago

That the best cabinet ever selected for the country.
Osati mbuzi like Dausi
Mchacha
Navitcha
Ops the list goes on.
Dausi wa jc
Mchacha woitanila mini bus

Super Duper
Super Duper
3 years ago

Dausi was a joke!!!!

Papa
Papa
3 years ago

Bwana nankhumwa mumafuna patakhala ndani coz what I know one choose people who will certainly take orders

Sizzler
Sizzler
3 years ago

Akhooo stay cool
watch the Dramaa as it continue to unfold this is politics not church pulpit

M Cheka Chilenje
M Cheka Chilenje
3 years ago

There’s nothing good that can come from George Malemia. Be mindful of what you speak as we may end up going after your MSCE news.

Kambewa Chisale
3 years ago

Ali ndi
Fake MCE as a result he was not supposed to be a cabinet minister for DPP.
Kunamiza ndi Mlandu pa okha.

chilmbirajembe
3 years ago

Kodi paja a Mia ali ndi qualification yanji?

Kambewa Chisale
3 years ago
Reply to  chilmbirajembe

Iwe jealous shity Munthu you have received fizesi

Jamax
Jamax
3 years ago

APM was a hero and he is still the hero we choose to deny him and now we will cry fo him just wait and see. This is how God works so that we learn to be obidient unto his commands. He gave us a Leader full of Love and caring but we said no and this is what we wanted let’s not cry now it’s too early lest our tears will dry before harder times approaches.

Super Duper
Super Duper
3 years ago
Reply to  Jamax

He was a sleepy crook.

Goliati
Goliati
3 years ago
Reply to  Jamax

Why should somebody with sound mind cry for apm, chidole cha chabe chabe

Chimulirenji
3 years ago
Reply to  Jamax

KUTUMA JOMO MTOPWA 1 KUMAMENYA ANTHU OSALAKWA WAS THAT LOVE WHICH GOD HAD PUT IN APM ? OOH KOMA NDIYE mulungu wake wa baala mchifukwa chake OUR MIGTHY GOD HAD TO REMOVE him from power shamelessly. you will talk until your eyes will see the difference and appreciate the change.Until then be as blind as your apm and nankhumwa george malemia

nafundo zalo
nafundo zalo
3 years ago

mavuto.
dpp had many mps
many ministers
many high calibre like CEOs
DIPLOMATS
PSs
Managers
Directors
Heads
etc over 70
joji malemnya kukokela office!
tiwaone kaye awawa awa.
azipempha upangili kwa ma adisor ao na.
oga ataniso

Sizzler
Sizzler
3 years ago
Reply to  nafundo zalo

Watch as the drama unfolds
has Chakwera apointed CEO yet
watch it 😅😅😅

Muhariwa
Muhariwa
3 years ago

Certain NGOs are for DPP and we known them well. Soon they will be exposed and we dont care weather they go to courts. Women women what, cant you wait and see how these people will perform and advise the President accordingly. May be you wanted ambuye anu kuti akhalepo. Can you you check the cabinet of previous government. Nankhumwa is just talking nonses. Hon. Chakwera stop listening to these NGOs.

Sizzler
Sizzler
3 years ago
Reply to  Muhariwa

Where is HRDC?

DANIELphiri
DANIELphiri
3 years ago

Kondwani is MP and his wife too why did kondwani not talk all this rubbish? Could he say the same if Peter had won ? This is foolish.

Kambewa Chisale
3 years ago
Reply to  DANIELphiri

Kondwani alibe MCE so he must answer ku Mlandu.

Read previous post:
Malawi new Cabinet provokes backlash: It’s nepotistic, chauvinistic, without star players

As the new Cabinet lineup that will administer state affairs in the Tonse Alliance government assembled by  President  Lazarus Chakwera...

Close