Mutharika makes Cabinet reorganisation: Ndau now Malawi govt spokesman, cashgate ministers retained, new ministry created
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has made changes to his cabinet in what is billed as a cabinet reorganization to ensure service delivery and has created a new ministry of civic education, culture and community development, naming Patricia Kaliati as portfolio holder. Mutharika has also re-allocated some ministers.
Kaliati was previously Ministers of Information Minister, Civic Education and ICT developmen. But now the ministry is called Ministry of Information and Communication Technology which has gone to Malison Ndau.
Ndau now becomes the official government spokesman. He has been moved from Transport and Public works which has gone to Jappie Mhango after he has been relocated from Home Affairs and Internal Security.
Grace Chiumia who was minister of sports and culture is now the new home affairs and internal security minister.
President Mutharika has merged Ministry of Sports and Youth with Ministry of Labour and Manpower Development in what will be now known as Ministry of Labour and Manpower Development and Henry Musa is heading the ministry.
The President has maintained the rest of the portfolios and did not axe any minister in his lean 20 member cabinet.
The cabinet changes were announced by Chief Secretray to government George Mkondiwa.
He said the changes aim at enhancing service delivery in the public sector and drive the economic growth of the country.
President has also introduced a deputy minister at Home Affairs and Internal Security filled by Aggrey Masi who was appointed in April, Deputy Minister of Defence. His post has been filled by Vincent Ghambi, formerly Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, a position that has since been scrapped off.
Mutharika last reshuffled his Cabinet in April this year when Allan Chiyembekeza, former Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, was dropped.
This was the fifth reshuffle since the President assumed office in May 2014.
By maintaining the same faces in cabinet, President Mutharika will annoy the opposition lawmakers who has been accusing the Malawi leader for shielding cabinet ministers who have been implicated in a K236 billion grand corruption scam.
But Mutharika has vehemently rejected the accusation, claiming he did not know names of the implicated ministers and that he could not sack his ministers as he did not have the names.
Outgoing British High Commissioner to Malawi, Michael Nevin, also bemoaned the higher levels of corruption in Malawi, exacerbated by a culture of impunity.
He told a local paper that the country’s rule of law could be permanently undermined by failure to bring to book those who break the law.
“The cancer of corruption is the most dangerous element that can undermine Malawi’s instability,” Nevin said, adding, “Corruption, fraud are not sufficiently challenged.”
President Mutharika publicly conceded that corruption was seen worsening in Malawi and his administration.
Besides the current corruption scandal, Malawi is yet to recover from another scam called Cashgate, in which at least K24 billion of Malawian state funds was stolen by government officials in just six months between April and October 2013.
Below is the full list of the reorganized cabinet.
- President of the Republic of Malawi and Minister of Defence:
His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika
Vice President of the Republic of Malawi:
Right Honorable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima
3. Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development:
Honourable Goodall Gondwe
4. Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development:
Honourable Dr. George Chaponda, M.P.
5. Minister of Labour, Sports, Youth and Manpower Development:
Honourable Henry Mussa, M.P.
6. Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development
Honourable Patricia Kaliati, M.P.
7. Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare:
Honourable Dr. Jean Kalilani, M.P.
8. Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development:
Honourable Atupele Muluzi, M.P.
9. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development:
Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa, M.P.
10. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:
Honourable Francis Kasaila, M.P.
11. Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining:
Honourable Bright Msaka, SC
12. Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism:
Honourable Joseph Mwanamvekha, M.P.
13. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs:
Honourable Samuel Tembenu, SC
14. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security:
Honourable Grace Chiumia M.P.
15. Minister of Information and Communication Technology - Honourable Malison Ndau
16. Minister of Health:
Honourable Dr Peter Kumpalume, M.P.
17. Minister of Education, Science and Technology:
Honourable Dr Emmanuel Fabiano, M.P.
18. Minister of Transport and Public Works:
Honourable Jappie Mhango, M.P.
19. Deputy Minister of Defence; Honourable Vincent Ghambi, M.P. - 20. Deputy Minister of Home affairs and Internal Security: Honourable Aggrey Massi, M.P