New Cabinet arrives: Kazako, Kaliati, Mtambo others fired while Gwengwe retained

The State President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has fulfilled the promise that he made on January 1st during the National address to reshuffle the Cabinet as he has announced new members of the cabinet.

Chakwera in his New Year Address vowed to name a lean and efficient team of Cabinet members with the aim of developing the Country.

“What you can expect to see when the announcement is made is a leaner Cabinet, one that is focused on maximising our nation’s limited resources on improving public service delivery, fast-tracking public works projects under construction, and unlocking the sectors of our economy that have the greatest potential for inclusive growth and shared prosperity, especially agriculture, tourism, and mining,” Chakwera said.

On 1st February, Dr Chakwera exercised the power conferred upon him by section 94(1) of the Constitution of Republic of Malawi by appointing the new Cabinet which saw both President and his Vice, Dr Chakwera and Saulos Chilima respectively having their ministerial portfolios removed.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Chakwera has reduced the Cabinet by 13% as the new cabinet contains 27 members.

The reduction comes in as the President has combined ministries of Local Government, Unity and Culture and the number of deputies has been trimmed.

Kazako has served the post for about three years as he was appointed as a Minister of Information and Government spokesperson by the newly elected Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera in July 2020.

The new cabinet has also seen both general Secretaries of the main parties in the Tonse Alliance, Eisenhowe Nduwa Mkaka (MCP) and Patricia Kaliati (UTM) being stripped off their ministerial portfolios.

Other faces that have axed from the Cabinet include Minister of Unity, Timothy Mtambo, Dr Albert Mbawala, Mark Katsonga Phiri, Blessings Chimsika.

Meanwhile, other ministers have been retained in the cabinet with others being moved around.

The ministers retained are minister of Finance, Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of water and Sanitation, Dr Abida Mia, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale, Minister of Justice Affairs, Titus Mvalo, Minister of Health Dr Khunbize Kandodo Chiponda, Deputy minister of education, Hon. Nancy Chaola Mdooko, Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Hon. Jacob Hara.

The ministers that have been moved around are Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Hon Michael Usi who was the minister of Culture and Tourism, Minister of Local government, Unity and Culture, Hon. Richard Chimwendo Banda who was Minister of youth and Sports among others.

The new faces in the cabinet are renowed Political Strategist, Dr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma who is now the minister of Homeland Security, Uchizi Mkandawire is the new minister of youth and Sports while Moses Kumkuyu is now back in the cabinet ministry as he is now the minister of information.

The gender in the new cabinet is at 40%.

Here is the full cabinet:

President of the Republic of Malawi, Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi
Defence Force, His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.
Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus
Chilima.
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Sosten Gwengwe, MP.
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Hon. Nancy Tembo, MP.
Minister of Agriculture – Hon. Sam Kawale, MP.
Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change – Hon. Michael Usi.
Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture – Hon. Richard
Chimwendo Banda, MP.
Minister of Justice – Hon. Titus Mvalo.
Minister of Homeland Security – Hon. Dr. Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, MP.
10.Minister of Health – Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP.
11.Minister of Trade and Industry – Hon. Simplex Chithyola, MP.
12.Minister of Youth and Sports – Hon. Uchizi Mkandawire, MP.
13.Minister of Education – Hon. Madalitso Wirima Kambauwa, MP.
14.Minister of Transport and Public Works – Hon. Jacob Hara, MP.
15.Minister of Mining – Hon. Monica Chang’anamuno, MP.
16.Minister of Tourism – Hon. Vera Kamtukule.
17.Minister of Gender – Hon Jean Muonaowauza Sendeza, MP.
18.Minister of Labour – Hon. Agnes Makonda Nyalonje.
19.Minister of Defence – Hon. Harry Mkandawire.
20.Minister of Water and Sanitation – Hon. Abida Mia, MP.
21.Minister of Energy – Hon. Ibrahim Matola.
22.Minister of Lands – Hon. Deus Gumba, MP.
23.Minister of Information – Hon. Moses Kumkuyu.
24.Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture – Hon. Owen
Chomanika, MP.
25.Deputy Minister of Health – Hon. Halima Alima Daud, MP.
26.Deputy Minister of Education – Hon. Nancy Chaola Mdooko, MP.
27.Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation – Hon. Liana Kakhobwe Chapota,
MP.