President Lazarus Chakwera has unveiled his 23-member cabinet
LILONGWE, July 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malawi’s new President Lazarus Chakwera has been criticised for including a husband and wife duo and siblings in his cabinet.
The president’s former running mate in the 2019 elections, Sidik Mia, has been appointed minister for transport and his wife Abida Mia is the deputy minister for lands.
Kenny Kandodo is the new labour minister and his sister Khumbize Kandodo is the health minister.
Businessman Gospel Kazako has been appointed information minister and his sister-in-law Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma is the deputy agriculture minister.
Earlier, President Chakwera’s first appointee to the justice ministry, lawyer Modercai Msiska, refused to take up the position saying it would look like a reward for representing him in court during the case that nullified ex-President Peter Mutharika’s election win.
Some have also pointed out that Chakwera had attacked Mutharika about nepotism in the past and for filling his cabinet with people from his region.
They add that more than 70% of President Chakwera’s new line-up is from the central region, his political stronghold.
Some Malawians online reacted with little enthusiasm to the new cabinet. — NNN-AGENCIES
