Tobias Sylvester
Malawi’s new President, Lazarus Chakwera has appointed his relatives and family members of other politicians as ministers in his new cabinet.
President Chakwera during his campaign lambasted the then president for being nepotistic and filling his cabinet with people from his region.
However, Mr Chakwera has also now appointed over 70% of his cabinet members from the central region which happens to be his political stronghold.
The appointment has made several Malawians unhappy because the president had criticised his predecessor for being nepotistic and filling his cabinet with people from his region.
The new Labour Minister Kenny Kandodo is brother to the new Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo.
Businessman Gospel Kazako, who has been appointed information minister, also has his sister-in-law Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma as the deputy agriculture minister.
The appointment has made several Malawians unhappy since they expected him not to repeat the nepotism he accused his predecessor of.
https://twitter.com/hassandeq8/status/1281147089880330240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1281147089880330240%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpulsembed.eu%2Fp2em%2FnLTcqdbnZ%2F
I will not lie, I am greatly underwhelmed by the cabinet list. Perhaps our expectations were too high.
Husband and wife and the wife's cousin all in one cabinet, really? Malawi wokomera tonse?
Gospel Kazako, owner of Zodiak Broadcasting Station, Minister of Information.— Alfie Saweta (@Osaweta) July 8, 2020
The only way to describe this cabinet is "spouses,sibilings,comrades and friends" #MalawiCabinet . @edmnangagwa you not all bad you inspire other nations usufake oKazembe kazembe. pic.twitter.com/fVCb3eY8Jh
— Uncle Mzex (@Madd_Zim_Oan) July 9, 2020
Good morning @LAZARUSCHAKWERA.
Just some quick questions:
You only know nepotism when it's being practiced by your opponents – true or false?
You are a puppet of a president who is given one script for a speech, but have no say on appointments – true or false?#malawicabinet.— Better Malawi (@BetterMalawi) July 9, 2020
A person who owns Pharmacies in Malawi is the Minister of Health, A Person who owns mines & logistics business- Minister of Mines, Owner of Zodiak radio Minister of Information. Africans haven’t suffered enough #MalawiCabinet
— African (@ali_naka) July 9, 2020
That #MalawiCabinet sounds like a family wedding committee
— African (@ali_naka) July 9, 2020
KanyiDaily had reported how a constitutional court in Malawi annulled 2019 presidential election, citing “widespread” irregularities and ordered a new vote.
The new Presidential elections were held in Malawi on 23 June 2020, saw Lazarus Chakwera defeat his predecessor, Peter Mutharika.
