Malawi’s president Laz cements family power: Mia couple, Kandodo siblings qualify cabinet appointment

July 9, 2020 Osman Faiti - Nyasa Times 41 Comments

Mo Sidik Mia and Abida Mia has become the first husband and wife to sit in the Tonse Alliance government Cabinet as the country in previous administrations had couples serving in Cabinet.

Mo Mia and his wife Abida: Each qualify to be appointed in their own right
MP Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda:  Minister of Health

President Lazarus Chakwera appointed the Mia couple in his Cabinet on Wednesday night.

Sidik Mia, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) first deputy president, who was also Chakwera’s running mate on the MCP ticket in the May 2019 nullified presidential elections is heading the Ministry of Transport and Public Works while his wife a firebrand politician and legislator Abida Mia has also been given a deputy post in the Ministry of Lands which will be headed by former parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee chairperson Kezzie Msukwa.

Economist Watipaso Mkandawire commenting about the Cabinet said those appointed who are related have all qualified in their own right.

“If the criteria was to find members of parliament with certain qualifications and those who are blood-related qualified, they should not be punished for being a brother or sister or wife of another qualifier. We are not the first and not the last.

“All those appointed can be traced as to their political involvement not as a spouse or sister, but as a participant. What is critical is that each, in their own right, have to deliver,” Mkandawire pointed out.

One of the opinion influencers on social media platforms, Kelvin Sulugwe also pointed out that Mia couple qualified for Cabinet in their own right each.

“Sidik Mia [one of the MCP officials with experience in serving in cabinet] is a man who sacrificed his political interests to accommodate and pave way for Tonse Alliance to happen. He was not selfish. He showed real transformation and leadership,” he wrote.

Abida Mia:  She has been fearless in campaigning for MCP

On Abida Mia, who Nyasa Times in 2018 heralded her as walking in the footsteps-of Winnie Mandela, the opinion maker Sulugwe said she fought side by side with people during those difficult demonstrations when most Malawians feared the streets.

“She was there and supported everyone who went to the streets to demand justice. She is one of the few women in the Tonse Alliance that did everything in her power to see to it that alliance succeeds,” he pointed out.

“I remember on the voting day [tippex election 2019], she was on the ground with a security team in the Lower Shire guarding the votes. There was an incident someone reported to me, when I enquired the people in the Lower Shire, her name came first, I called her and alerted her. She acted like a man and attended to all security alerts in the lower Shire. She was that instrumental. ”

And Kandodo family in Kasungu, members of founding President Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda, has a brother and sister who will be in sitting in Cabinet as all full ministers.

Kandodo: Not laughing matter, Times Grouyp is under ‘state capture’

Ken Kandodo, appointed as Minister of Labour where he will be deputised by rookie Vera Kamtukule. Sister to Kandodo, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has meanwhile been appointed as the Minister of Health.

The 31 man cabinet has also an in-law to Minister of Information Gospel Kazako has also been appointed into the cabinet. Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma, a sister to Kazako’s late wife, has been appointed as deputy minister in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Critics expect that the new Cabinet would successfully carry out the transformation tasks the “government of the people” with the Tonse Alliance Philosophy of governance has promoted.

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41 replies on “Malawi’s president Laz cements family power: Mia couple, Kandodo siblings qualify cabinet appointment”

  1. It’s not merit when done by APM and its merit when done by Chakwera. No amount of justification will convince me about this stupidity.

  2. Transformation yomweyo!!! Trans-deformation!!! Trans-Chewaformation!!!! Trans-Family-ation!!!! Trans-Fotsekation!!!

  4. Never trust pastor..he will fail national just like in church he does bad things in the name of lord..for him is just normal..big mistake chosing him..I knew this would happen

  5. Despite each ministerial appointment going through a qualification process and each one of them deserving the appointments into cabinet, what the majority of the disappointed Malawian are voicing out is simple, The appointing authority as come up with a cabinet rewarding loyalists and not a cabinet with an inclusive fave to Tonse Alliance nor techincal to cure Malawis political economical and social diseases. Whether they will deliver or not that is not the concern. I for one I believe its an able cabinet. Mordecai Msiska said it all. However the concern is, Will Tonse Alliance government fulfil its manifesto? Change is here lets move on. Malawi needed deliverance we hope we were delivered into the right pot.

  6. One thing you know
    Malawi anatopa, voted for change, to sitter of president but for betterment of Malawians
    U said by your self build new Malawi, i hope its for better not for worse, don’t make Malawi to feel like nightmare the vote we cast for you
    Think of other Malawians who are far from you, who casted vote by trusting in you.
    Its this appointment its betterment of every Malawians let be
    But one thing i know you can build something new for good or bad… We are waiting for results in this 5 years period we have given you
    Kokera kwako zangaputse malawi kuli konse
    Kapena tiziti Malawi adapita ndi munuwake kamunzu?

  8. MCP does Not deserve to be Ruling Malawi Chakwera is Thug and Thief himself Malawians Just wait and Watch this Country will be Ruled by Relatives and Friends and NON qualified Ministers who do not even under stand ABCD of Politics and Economics of Country
    As Malawi is Rated the Poorest Country in the World and Most Corrupt Country In Africa
    Chakwera will Fall Flat and His Administration is NOT good for the Country

  12. I don’t see any issue here. As pointed out by Watipaso Mkandawire, these individuals do qualify to do their respective jobs regardless. Let’s give the new government a chance and only hold them to account if they don’t deliver on their campaign promises. They did not promise a particular cabinet during campaign but rather development. For instance in the UK, we’ve had Eddie Balls and his wife, siblings David and Eddie Miliband, Boris Johnson and his brother in cabinet with no issues. Paja ku Africa, dwelling on trivial things.

    1. When it was the Mutharika and Muluzis you were at the forefront criticising. We criticised this habit then and we will now. It has to end. Unless they were rocket scientists. However Malawi has capable people to fill up the positions.

  13. Out of ALL the people in Malawi, you want us to believe that only a few families have the ability to produce ministers. Honestly this is disappointing. Be ethic cautious.

    And Kaliati must go.. am sure there so many Malawians out there that can be picked even on a blindfold, and they will do a better job than her.

    These are rewarding appointments.

    I am from the central region and this really stinks. We were accusing DPP of being a mulhalo wa a Lomwe.. this is a mulhalo wa achewa. Do things for the nation and not for tribes and a few chosen families.

    What a let down.

  15. This is why UTM initially rejected an MCP alliance. This Chakwera is a clown and is ready to repay political debts at the expense of Malawians. This is not 1992, Malawi and Malawians are greater than names like Mia,Tembo and Kandodo. We want a regionally balanced cabinet of Technocrats. There are 28 districts in Malawi with a sea of well learned Men. Fresh blood such as Dr. Kachale who has served Malawians well in just a few weeks.

  16. I have always maintained that SKC should have been the rightful torchbearer for tonse Alliance …….. this nonsense of a cabinet would not have been tolerated

    1. We all did that but LMC had wanted to be a president and so in humility SKC paved way. But SKC could not have done this. We needed a radical leader in the transformation period

  17. Ine ndingodikira kuti ndimve wina wakana unduna koma kuli ziiiii ….hehehe amatha izi ndi Modecai ndi Chimunthu basi

  18. Inu ndi dza DPP idzi dzung’ung’udzang’ung’adzadzi. They are masquerading as disgruntled MCP supporters.

    I totally believe that these newly elected men and women in cabinet shall make a formidable team, and will help with the realisation of the new Malawi dream.

  19. Supid comment. When it is Atupele then you claim its family politics and when it Joyce Banda, Kandodos and Mias then they qualify in their own right. This is complete cramp and only stupid people will praise such useless appointment

  20. Writers why are we not commenting on the bloated cabinet has now our economy grown overnight to sustain these ministers and their deputies? Not long ago we used to say no to a bloated cabinet now we have thirty plus of them. Please trim the cabinet for the good of the cause unless we are same soup in different dishes

  21. Dr Chakwera you have a lot of explanation to make to Malawians! This is bull shit of a cabinet , POOR START!

  22. Very dissatisfied / disappointed Tonse Alliance supporter, I feel very deflated right now, my hopes and enthusiasm for a better Malawi have been shattered overnight……… some old same old story YIKES!

  23. May be we are yet to understand Chakwera and his business UNUSUAL.
    There is nothing knew we can say about the Cabinet that he did know not thonk through about it. The Mia, Kandodo, Kazako families ties. He thinks on a different wavelength.

  24. Zoona atenge zimene anasokha kuti busa akhale pa mpandowu. Malawi zimaoneka ngati zikuyeratu koma apapa zachitakuonetsela kuti kumalawi nfikuchipinda Kwa satana. Kuchita kupanda manyazi kulemba mwathamo chakwera cemented what what hahahaha zana zanali mumawauza anthu kuti Malawi is being lomwelizef Bola alomweo anali amabamja osiyansiyana lero nkhani za Boma anthu azikambilana kuchipinda ndi akazio .chisoni kabwira alikuti anthu ozindikila kuwasiya chifukwa si akubanja? Back to square one zalowa akunbanja kkkkkk

    1. Kenako wasala ntembo nayenso apasidwa zochita as if kulibe anyamata azeruzao othamanga mukati ma paper alinaowonso

  25. I totally agree – let them show Malawians that they can make Malawi flourish but that I mean deliver to the expectation of Malawians. Lazarus and Chilima have done well to include those whom they felt qualified to be in the cabinet. They will remove themselves if they have evil motives. Bravo Chakwera and Chilima, moving forward.

  27. As a Tonse Alliance voter one thing that I’ve noted is people do not fight for the better of Malawi. The fight for wealth and positions.
    The same thigns that they scrutinised is what they have become power hungry politicians.

  28. Husband and Wife – Brown Mpinganjira/Lizzie Rosa during UDF, I dont see any problem, my concern is capability/performance not otherwise.

    1. Not true. Brown Mpinganjira started a relationship with fellow minister Lizzie Rossa. They were not appointed in cabinet as a couple. In fact,Mpinganjira snatched Lizzie from a Mr Rossa.

    2. Brown and Lizzie started dating after both were appointed in cabinet in their own capacity. They were not appointed as husband and wife.

  29. I personally vowed NOT to be a critic to the new government in fact I appreciated so much to see the change being done in homony: But on this CABINET issue I will not remain queit and my question is why choosing two members in one family???? Dr. Chakwera and Dr. Chilima are you telling me that from Chitipa to Nsanje you failed to find anyone who could have taken the position of Abida Mia??? Am totally confused I thought you will show us your atmost maturity when choosing you Cabinet. But Alas!!!! this is pure masanje more like a wedding Committee. Choosing Gospel Kazako is a credit but WHY choosing his in-law Agness??? This confuses me alot you could have done better if Callister was offered that position, Another blunder which you have made is ushering into power this gangster Timothy Mtambo everyone knows that Timothy is an activits by professional now are telling us that this is how you are going to repay him after fighting for you? The Kondondo family as well has been favored on the basis of appeasement why not John Chisi for Ministry of healthy? he is the guy who has vast experience in this field infact he is a qualified doctor = shame on you Mr. President = this is the worst cabinet I have ever heard in the world may God help us.

  31. That’s bull, remember Malawi has got 18 million plus people so dont come with that story of saying that those family each one of them qualified individually, that’s not the point. Is it long ago that we were singing that Malawi is not for two families. The Muluzi & Mutharika? Now it is ok cos it’s MCP that is doling it? National Cake needs to be shared amongst all Malawians. That’s why people supported the “Tonse Philosophy” If you talk of people who fought then some of these names that we hear for the first time were not near where the fight was. The matter of the fact is that it is not a balanced Cabinet. Let’s not try to Sugarcoat things here, that’s why DPP lost direction because of not heeding criticism which if given constructively is part of advice.

  32. Mr President
    I had wished democracy long life and signed off as we had dealt with those Satanist that captured our country. But I had to come out of retirement to comment on what has just happened in respect of the cabinet that has just been released.
    1. Cabinet has to be redrafted to reflect the tone of your speech
    2. Be mindful of people wishes who had put you into power and it takes just a second to lose trust just as it is now. You may need to immediately rebuild that trust by going back to the people with an apology
    3. MCP alone can not win an election and will always need a popular vote from Chilima and UTM. There is no UTM in your cabinet
    4. Know that Chilima is a leverage winning formula and he has got the liberty to be in Alliance with DPP and UDF, MCP will have only 1 term presidency and be back to opposition come 2025
    5. The value of Chilima and UTM is not represented by MPs in Parliament but the love that Malawi people have on him and the party
    Address the nation now of the withdrawal of the cabinet and apologize as it is too early to have demonstrations for the restoration of equity and justice to the Malawi Nation.

    Super Power has said it

  34. Jealous down although some of those appointed are related to each other, but these people have done a great job for Tonse alliance and most importantly are also qualified for the positions they have been given.

    The proof of the pudding is in the eating so let us wait and see if these people will perform to the expectation of all Malawians.

    Putting together a cabinet out of the 2.6 million people who voted for the Tonse alliance was never gonna be easy and not everyone will be pleased but again what Malawians are waiting for is the delivery of the promises and the Tonse alliance manifesto.

    Those who wanted positions in the cabinet and elsewhere are the ones who were at the fore front of fighting the battles for change from the DPP regime.

    Most people making noise about the cabinet are the same lazy people who like to harvest where they did not sow.

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