By Kondanani Chilimunthaka
President Lazarus Chakwera who dissolved his cabinet on Monday this week has appointed 12 into the new cabinet as part of the full cabinet that is expected soon.
In a press release from the Office of the President and Cabinet that we have seen, signed by the Secretary to the OPC, Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi, President Chakwera has brought into his cabinet two new faces of Samuel Kawale, now Hon. Minister of Lands replacing Kezzie Msukwa and Mark Katsonga Phiri as Honorable Minister of Trade and Industry.
Katsonga’s inclusion has seen the merging of two ministries of Trade which was headed by Sosten Gwengwe and that of Industry which was under Roy Kachale into one Trade and Industry.
The partial cabinet announced on Wednesday midnight has also seen Abida Mia formerly Deputy Minister of Lands and Verah Kamtukule who was Deputy Minister of Labour being promoted to full Ministers in the ministries of Water and Sanitation (newly created) and Labour respectively.
“His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 94(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi has made the following initial Ministerial appointments with effect from today, Wednesday, 26th January, 2022:-” Reads part of the Press release by the Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).
Other Ministers so far drafted in the partial cabinet President Chakwera has appointed include; Lobin Lowe (Agriculture), Michael Usi(Tourism, Culture and Wildlife), Patricia Kaliati(Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare), Titus Mvalo(Justice), Agnes Nyalonje(Education), Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda(Health), Jacob Hara(Transport and Public Works), and Blessings Chinsinga(Local Government).
But President Chakwera has in his partial appointment kept silent on some ministries like that of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, and Information which are regarded as so critical and crucial.
The partial cabinet appointment is coming after President Chakwera dissolved his entire cabinet due to a number of reasons which surrounded his previous cabinet members including growing rumors of corruption among others.