Malawi: President names 43-member cabinet

  1. Posted on Thursday 18 June 2009 - 09:03
    Sam Banda Junior
    Image of Sam Banda Junior
    Sam Banda Junior, AfricaNews reporter in Blantyre, Malawi
    A 43-member cabinet with fresh breeds has been announced by Malawi's President Bingu Wa Mutharika on Wednesday since his re-election last month. Conspicuously missing in the list are known names who served in the previous cabinet - Henry Mussa, Henry Phoya, Ken Lipenga and Symon Vuwa Kaunda.
    Bingu wa Mutharika
    In line with his pronouncement to the media recently that they would see a different cabinet, Mutharika introduced new faces which include his brother Professor Peter Mutharika who is the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

    Other new names are Ken Kandodo –Minister of Finance, Abbie Shaba –Minister of Development, Planning and Cooperation, Richie Muheya –Minister of Irrigation and Water Development and Professor Peter Mwanza – Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

    The new cabinet consists of 11 women against seven out of 42 in the last government. They include Vice President Joyce Banda, Margaret Roka Mauwa who is Deputy Minister of Agriculture and food security, Professor Etta Banda who is Minister of Foreign Affairs, Otria Moyo Jere – Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Eunice Kazembe – Minister of Trade and Industry and Patricia Kaliati –Minister of Gender, Child Development and Community.

    According to the country’s gender activists, the percentage of women in President Mutharika’s cabinet has increased from 17 to 26 percent. The gender activists hailed the development describing it as the President’s good response to the 50-50 campaign.

    Chairperson for Malawi’s NGO Gender Coordination Network Emma Kaliya told The Daily Times: “That is the good response to the 50-50 campaign, and I hope that this is just a starting point, we still need more.”

    Despite the praises, economic commentators in the country have expressed surprise with the exit of Goodall Gondwe as Minister of Finance. Gondwe, who was instrumental in uplifting Malawi’s economy, has been shifted from Finance which is now occupied by Kandodo to Ministry of Local Government.

    The new ministers would be sworn in later on Thursday in the capital city, Lilongwe according to a statement from Chief Secretary and Secretary to the President and Cabinet Bright Msak.

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