Mutharika shot himself in the foot on Cabinet

February 19, 2020 Nyasa Times Reporter 45 Comments

The presidency of Peter Mutharika gained a lot economically but lost politically.

President Mutharika:  Has lean Cabinet

President Peter Mutharika 2014 campaign of a 20 member Cabinet won hearts of thousands of Malawians. It is a campaign pledge he has fulfilled 100% throughout his first five-year first term, even the nine months of his second five-year term.

The President has maintained a 20-member Cabinet ever since, when he did not campaign on cabinet size in the second term.

Further, the President has maintained the 20 member Cabinet, even now when the economy has recovered: inflation is at the lowest in decades, bank lending rates have come down by more than 50%, infrastructure development is underway across the country, and public reform to enable economic growth.

In some ways, the President could justify a Cabinet of more than 20. He did not. He remained true to his campaign pledge. That honesty, that emphasis on economic growth of the country, cost Mutharika politically.

The 20 member cabinet meant APM had limited choices, especially from those areas his party, the DPP, did not get majority votes.

That pattern of voting was a challenge. How could Mutharika appoint people from such areas into the Cabinet when areas that voted for him provided enough?

Opinion leaders from areas that did not vote Mutharika want to be in Cabinet but they have not offered themselves in support of Mutharika.

That is the challenge. He who wants to be bribed must place himself on the road in which bribes are moving. Instead of supporting Mutharika, they have opposed him. Instead of looking at the national picture, they have looked at local picture.

What has Mutharika done for me? This is the question of opinion leaders among those that did not vote for the President. As we can all see, a good economy is not enough, local development is not adequate. People want to be in the Cabinet. People want their own in the Cabinet. A Cabinet position has, in a way, become a bribe to buy loyalty and support.

In his inaugural address for his second term, Mutharika said powerful words about Malawi and her future. “I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving this great nation. As I commence my second term in office, I pledge to put Malawi first and to continue advancing development as I lead a people-centred government.”

Even more powerful was his follow up two sentences: “I am committed to taking Malawi forward in the spirit of unity, peace and progress. My administration is devoted to leave no one behind.”

My administration is devoted to leave no one behind? That was about national development. But Mutharika’s administration had left some behind by maintaining a 20 member Cabinet.

It is time for Muthrika to break away from the 2014 campaign pledge. After all, the economy is a lot better than then and can sustain a 30-member Cabinet.

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45 replies on “Mutharika shot himself in the foot on Cabinet”

  7. This article reflects the truth. Angakhale mutukwane bwanji but there is sense and truth in it.

    Sometimes we need to accept other things even though we seem not to be happy with the things. Even though we say Mutharika must go but it is evident enough to appreciate what he has done.

    Amalawi, tisamangozolowera kutukwana but sometimes we also learn to take things on the positive side, osangoti nthawi zonse negative negative basi, mmmmmmmm

  8. This is the stupidest article I had ever came across in the recent decade
    The headline and the contents are totally different
    Umafuna kulemba kuti chiyani kweni kweni?

    Shupit zako walembawe ndithu

  12. Mr Reporter, please take this home, Munthalika’s time is over he is 80 years and whether he wants or not time is not on his side. DPP supporters why can’t you leave him alone. At his age anything can happen to him. At that age the body needs rest please.

  14. PETER MUTHALIKA ADMIISTRATION HAS MORE AND MOSTLY USELESS DPP CADETS AND SYMPASISERS AS PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORS SUCH AS THE MPHEPOS,NTABAS,JULIUS MITHIS (SENIOR ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT).THESE ARE EITHER AT DIRECTORS OR DEPUTY DIRECTORS POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT SO THERE ARE NOT NOTABLE SAVINGS AT ALL.HE HAS PROVED TO BE THE MOST NEPOSTIC PRESIDENT, KEY GOVERNMENT POSTIONS AND EMBASSY POSITIONS EVEN GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES ARE RESERVED FOR LOMWES.

  17. You people that have been bestowed with the blessing to write need to perform this function with guidance from God or whoever natural being you believe in apart from Satan. This type of writing denotes someone who is lost in petty political thinking. What economy has improved? Which second term was won if even the so called first tem was another stolen vote? God is speaking for the Malawi Nation.

  19. Reshuffle and bloating soon? Hon. Sammys mina ulendowuno .koma too much voco. Mavuvu usiye kaye. Ulendowuno kulowa a udf

  20. Many see a great job done but a few come forward with gratitude. Please accept my congratulations Prof. President. Politics aside, what you have done so far so good is not all that bad as the populous paint it contrary. People will surely remember you some day in the Future. Mostly for being super democratic and good willed. You have taken enough humility without confrontation. A lot more have disrespected you in many ways and you just let them go away with it. Indeed true strength is defined by what one stands for, and you surely have stood firm on your ground. The hate and envy is so real out there but in all honesty I still find it factual that you’re better than most of “them” on a diversity of fronts. History will get back to your name with a handful of credits; the same way they do with Bingu now after failing him back then. Keep up with the good work and stay focused on what you stand for. You might be judged wrong by arbitrary observers but surely you’re sophisticated sir. Good luck!!!

  21. One wonders whether this fool lives in Malawi. Anyway foolishness abounds in Malawi. Even among professors and PhD graduates you find foolishness. Look at Peter himself a typical example of foolishness manifestation. Mr journalist please stop embarrassing yourself.

  25. Which economy has recovered? There is hunger in the village, maize is at 20000 per bag to the point of Bushiri stepping in with subsidised maize. Stop insulting Malawians, Mutharika has been a total failure.

  26. Dont write.because there is space.to fill..you want the.same.economic gains.to be lost because of political appeasement?

  29. What kind of economics is this? “..
    the economy can sustain a 30 member cabinet”..my foot! What kind of thinking is this? Are we growing the economy to sustain cabinet ministers? Do we need a 30 member cabinet when a 20 member one is growing the economy? The politics of appeasement using tax payers money is foolish and archaic!

  30. It is true Mutharika has shot himself on the foot politically by maintaining a lean cabinet. He should cast the net wide.

  31. Chembwana Nkolokosa mwaledzera eti why advocate for politics of appeasement you are not happy when the government has enough money to spend on it’s people but you want self enrichment Cabinet of 30 for who do write this again

  32. What’s all this nonsense about. Is it the same impoverished Malawi we’re talking about? Is it the same incompetent tippex gogo we’re talking about? His days and those of mulakhos are numbered.

    1. This is hate speech. Be reminded that I leave close to most of your cousins here. You can go on with that nonsense and spark the fire

  36. An article with no convincing thread of argument. You are just all over the place. What are you exactly saying?

  37. Cadet type of thinking…which economy has improved?people are sleeping with empty stomach..then mukufuna akulitse cabinet?atengetso ndalama za mitsonkho yathu ayambe kugula anthu monga mwazimene akuchita ku parliament?

  39. The writer should say In the “nullified inaugural address”……

    Secondly, the writer is lying. Economic development when demonstrators are not given clean water? zoona ma demonstrators a DPP kumamwa madzi a mungalande kuzomba? And someone takes the podium to say the country is developed?

    1. There is a difference between what government can do and what people themselves can do. This mentality of wanting people to be given free things is what is making our country poor.

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