dissatisfaction over new Malawi cabinet

Various sectors of the society have expressed disappointment with the 31 member cabinet which President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has appointed.

Speaking to radio Islam political scientist has faulted Chakwera for repeating the same mistakes made in the previous regime.
Blantyre based political scientist, Vincent Kondowe said it is very unfortunate to see Tonse Alliance government committing the mistakes they were preaching against during campaign.

Kondowe mentioned the blotted cabinet, appointment of ministers based on personal relationship and politics of appeasement.
“This is a clear evidence that Tonse Alliance government does not live to the principles they were preaching,”He said.

Reacting to the newly appointed cabinet, Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi FEDOMA has expressed distress with the absence of disability ministry.

Executive director of the organization Symon Munde in an interview with radio Islam said omitting the ministry indicates how non-committal the government is to disability issues.

“Zero percent representation of people with disability in the cabinet is a cause for alarm in as far as promoting representation of persons with disability in key decision making positions is concerned,” Munde explained.

He added people with disability have felt left out hence will engage the president to seek clarification on the decision made.

Commenting, NGO Gender Coordination Network NGOGCN said is very concerned with absence of Ministry of Gender in the cabinet.

Chairperson for NGO-GCN Barbra Banda says the country made tremendous progress in the championing of women’s rights through the ministry of gender therefore are worried of where issues of women will be addressed.

Banda added though the appointment has raised women representation in decision making positions to 39 percent from the previous 22 percent, the number falls short of gender equality act which calls for 60 – 40 representation.

Meanwhile, Centre for democracy and economic development initiative CDEDI has asked the president to be decisive, avoid populist and appeasement policies.

Acting executive director Silvester Namiwa says the centre is disappointed with composition of the cabinet as it comprises four families which is contrary to the expectation of many Malawians.

Namiwa is also against the appointment of many women as deputy ministers which can mean that they are not capable of serving as full cabinet ministers.

The centre is further concerned with entrusting some people with portfolios that do not resonate well with their skills and abilities.

According to Namiwa a closer look at the list reveals that out of 28 districts Lilongwe has taken a bigger chunk of the ministerial positions scooping seven thereby beating DPP which had 4 positions in Thyolo only.

“The president has departed from his sweet promises and is treading to a very dangerous path,” Namiwa said.

In a related development, Human Rights Defenders Coalition HRDC says will meet the president today to discuss the cabinet after getting views from Malawians.

Chairperson of HRDC Gift Trapence during a press briefing in Lilongwe said some are against the missing of ministries, nepotism while others are satisfied with the cabinet.
Trapence said their discussion will centre on nepotism because it is not the right way to run the country.

President Lazarus Chakwera on wednesday appointed his first cabinet following his victory in the 23 June Fresh elections beating the then leader Peter Mutharika after the 2019 polls which gave another mandate to the latter were nullified by the Court.