Malawi’s president Chakwera says Cabinet to be lean with 40 percent women representation
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has said he would appoint a full “lean” cabinet – which will have no less than 40 percent of women – as he works towards putting together a functional government to rebuild the country’s comatose economy left by his predecessor Peter Mutharika.
The new Malawi leader made the announcement Monday afternoon at his private residence in Area 6 in Lilongwe during the swearing in ceremony of the new appointees to Cabinet and other senior government positions.
Chakwera also said his full cabinet, which will be released before his inauguration on Independence Day will have no more than 30 members including more women to ensure that they are adequately represented in his administration.
“I have made these appointments in consultation with the Vice President because these positions are critical in the smooth transition from the old administration to this new one. A full cabinet, which will have no more than 30 members will be released before our inauguration on 6 July.
“To ensure that there is enough representation of women in our administration, not less than 40 percent of the Cabinet will be composed of women,” Chakwera said.
The Head of State then called upon the new appointees to ensure that they are prioritizing serving the nation over everything else.
“Your performance will be judged on how happy the Malawi people are. That is your service. All of us are servants to Malawians and ensure that when discharging your functions,” Chakwera advised.
Commenting on the development, NGO Gender Coordination Network Chairperson, Barbara Banda said while the announcement is commendable, demonstration of the administration’s commitment to gender equality should have started with first few appointments.
“We receive the news with some reservations because the first appointments are only men and that’s partriachal. The impression is that these are the big boys crucial to the administration and women will only be considered in the next appointments.
“It suggests that these are the people who are taking lead in the administration. We would have loved to have this gender consideration right from the off, and not just done as an appeasement,” Banda said.
President Chakwera on Monday made a number of appointments to Cabinet and Government, which include the appointment of Vice President Saulos Chilima as Minister of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms, Felix Mlusu as Minister of Finance, Mordechai Msisha as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Richard Chimwendo Banda as Minister of Homeland Security.
The President has also appointed Chikosa Silungwe as Attorney General and Zangazanga Chikhosi as Chief Secretary to the Government, among others.
Chakwera was sworn in Sunday morning as Malawi’s 6th President following his victory in Tuesday’s fresh presidential election when he defeated former President, Arthur Peter Mutharika.
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That guy behind mr prez in suit and specs. adyeko eee loyalty amayidziwa
The push for equal opportunity also requires an unbiased assessment of the value the individual will bring to institutional performance, otherwise the touted ‘equal representation’ will be meaningless or even counter-productive! Please do not super-prioritize the numbers game rather the super skill-sets and beneficial values the individual brings!!!!
100% . What we see now in Europe from these promises of representation is a lack of respect for women in high positions because we know many of them are there simply because of their gender. Positive discrimination is simply discrimination. To get more women into high positions it has to start from the bottom.. getting educational opportunities for women, reducing pregnancy in school, promoting the ability of men to act as child carers (equal partnernity rights).
South Africa has 28 ministers. Why does Malawi with a donor funded central government need 30 ministers? Alliance politics has a big downside, every partner wants a big share of the cake. I will repeat myself again, what we are seeing here, we have seen it before. African politicians fight to join the feeding trough. They tell you they want to change the system but no, they want to join the system.
Yup. It will take strong leadership to overcome this, but not sure if possible
Message of the new administration is mixed. 40% inclusion of women in the cabinet should be welcomed. However, judging from how the developed world has performed of late, the exclusion of minorities is a deep concern and will hinder donor countries trust in Malawi. The fact that the President intends to have a cabinet of 30 is a setback. In UK, where economy is more than 100 times bigger than that of Malawi, the size of cabinet size is 22. A big cabinet merely promotes corruption and more over some want the job just to fill their pockets. As soon… Read more »
“Your performance will be judged on how happy the Malawi people are” Wow!! That’s my president speaking.
And that’s a tough call but a real good criteria to measure performance from government ministries…..I love it.
Amene mmakonda kuthamangila mipando yaunduna chifukwa chokonda maulemerelo amdziko lapansi muli mmadzi with this president.
Why not make it all female. Koma Alomwe musayikemo. Will the kashigeti kwini be in the cabinet?
We should maintain the same number of ministers as the previous govt because it proved it can be done no more because the country is poor. When it comes to women at 40% welldone
Chakwera make malawi great again.
When was Malawi great? Just copying Trump’s slogan to Malawi situation, a country who’s foundation went horribly wrong.
Azimayi musadande ayi.Mukamapita ku munda mmawa mwamuna ndiye amatsogola kuti inu muyende mosavuta,Apulesident akukuganizirani mtima pansi.
Malawi is preindustrial. 60% of economy is supported by foreign aid. I hope chakwera fulfills the promise of.improving manufacturing.