Governance
Cabinet reshuffle: Experts question impact amid economic & political crisis
The reshuffle, seen by many as politically strategic, has failed to inspire confidence in its capacity to address Malawi’s urgent issues. With the cabinet’s size expanded and questions about ministerial competencies, the reshuffle has added to public dissatisfaction over governance and fiscal responsibility.
State President Lazarus Chakwera’s recent cabinet reshuffle has sparked mixed reactions, with experts casting doubt on its ability to deliver meaningful change.
Political commentators and governance experts agree that the reshuffle lacks new ideas, is poorly timed, and contradicts promises of fiscal austerity, raising concerns about its impact on the country’s pressing challenges.
Political commentator Vincent Matiya Chirwa has told Nthanda Times in an interview that the reshuffle is a missed opportunity.
He described the reshuffle as “ill-timed,” noting that it comes just seven months before the general elections.
“This reshuffle is ill-timed, with just seven months before elections new ministers will need months to settle and start working, leaving little time to make meaningful impact or meet Malawians’ expectations,” said Chirwa.
Chirwa has also criticized the reshuffle as a mere rearrangement of existing faces, arguing that it is unlikely to achieve the President’s said objectives.
“This reshuffle will have no impact because the same individuals are being recycled into different roles, doing the same things in the same way. Without fresh faces and new skills, the cabinet cannot achieve meaningful results. Adding to this is the pressure of elections, which leaves little time for Minister’s to settle or deliver. The reshuffle should have been done long ago to make a difference,” said Chirwa.
In a separate interview, Political and Governance expert Chimwemwe Tsitsi echoed Matiya Chirwa’s concerns, pointing out that the expanded cabinet contradicts the President’s earlier commitments to cut public spending.
He also highlighted the public’s disappointment over the retention of certain ministers, such as the Minister of Energy, whose performance has been a subject of protests.
“The reshuffle seems politically motivated, with appointments from other parties suggesting an effort to consolidate alliances. However, it contradicts the President’s commitment to cutting public expenditure, given the increased size of the cabinet. For instance, Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola, criticized for his handling of fuel costs, has been retained, while others have merely been shifted between Ministries. This falls short of public expectations,” said Tsitsi.
He further argued that the recent cabinet appointments appear more focused on political appeasement than on selecting individuals capable of delivering meaningful results for the country.
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) Executive Director Willy Kambwandira has described the reshuffle as uninspiring, citing concerns about the competency of the appointees.
He also criticized the reshuffle as an appeasement strategy rather than a solution-oriented exercise.
“Some ministers retained from the previous cabinet have a record of poor performance, and even the aligned ministers are struggling, so their reappointment is questionable. Additionally, the cabinet’s size contradicts the President’s commitment to austerity, adding pressure to an already strained fiscal space.
“With the country in crisis, from an uncertainty over Affordable Input Program to underfunded local councils, Malawians expected competent individuals to address these challenges, but many of the appointees seem misplaced and lack the capacity needed to drive real change,” he noted.
The new Cabinet has expanded to 31 members, up from 27, with seven Deputy Ministers compared to the previous four.
Notable new faces include Ezekiel Ching’oma who takes over the Ministry of Homeland Security from Zikhale Ng’oma, now appointed to the Ministry of Mining, Dr. Jessie Kabwira, also from MCP, heads the newly created Ministry of Higher Education.
Other appointments include Joyce Chitsulo, former DPP MP for Mwanza West, as Deputy Minister of Local Government, Culture, and Unity; Lilongwe South legislator Peter Dimba as Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works; and former Zomba Central parliamentarian Patricia Nangozo Kainga as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Governance
PAC raps Pres. Chakwera over poor, weak leadership
Thawale told President Lazarus Chakwera that his administration has failed to heal the economy, and has instead put the economy in bad shape.
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) – a quasi-religious body – on Monday expressed serious reservations and disappointment with the lack of vision and direction President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has demonstrated over the four years of his leadership.
Speaking during an interface meeting at the Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Monday, PAC chairperson Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale observed that Chakwera has failed in many aspects, citing failure to tackle corruption and abuse of funds, despite his campaign promises to deal with the problems.
“PAC wishes to express its disappointment over the leadership style the country faces. The leadership’s inaction and indecisiveness on several revelations of alleged corrupt practices unearthed in the higher echelons of the current government have constructed a public view that erodes the integrity of the highest office. Your administration has demonstrated serious weaknesses on the alleged abuse of funds and corruption despite your assertions made during the 2019 and 2020 campaign,” Thawale said at the outset of the interface.
“We wish to recall that as a Man of God you exuded immense hope to take a strong stand against corrupt practices, as you had observed its negative impact. The MCP Manifesto (p.17) supports our view. It states, “The MCP will be very tough on corruption because it realizes that corruption is an epidemic that has the power to completely destroy a country’s socio-economic, financial and human and political environment”,” he added.
Thawale further told the Head of State that his administration has failed to heal the economy, and has instead put the economy in bad shape.
“Indeed, the country’s socio-economic, financial, human, and political environment has been corruptly destroyed. Having assumed power in 2020, incidents bent on corrupt practices in the current administration have been rife in the areas of AIP, and fuel procurement. Your leadership continuously ignored several allegations of unwarranted acts of corruption and remained indecisive on such issues especially relating to your closest ministers and government officials. The inaction and indecisiveness in many fronts of government not only manifest lack of statecraft but also cluelessness on operations of state machinery.
“Resultantly, the inconsistent actions have characterized the form of administration, which is devoid of integrity and honesty. While the latter are cardinal in any successful administration, your leadership has consigned to the past most values stipulated in the MCP Manifesto. We wish to subscribe to MCPs manifesto assertions on taking a tough stand on corrupt practices. However, we are inclined to take a view that hypocrisy has tainted the current leadership. Words have not matched your actions on issues of corruption and alleged abuse of funds in the administration,” he continued.
The Committee further expressed disappointment over allegations that the MCP is becoming an ‘instrument of oppression’, by stopping demonstrations. PAC also condemned the stoning of the Presidential motorcade.
“The general political atmosphere puts your political party on the exit stage unless something spectacular emerges. Even in your strongholds, the doubt on your winning is loud and clear. It is our hope that in the remaining months you can always turn around this perception. The doubt is real. The failures are massive and obvious. We are calling upon you to act on issues of national importance before the public rises against you. Patience has limits,” said Thawale.
“For us, the standard of living has gone down; the perception that the regime is corrupt still stands; that most civil servants are frustrated remains a fact; and that the fuel crisis continues is a reality. The leadership is lacking,” he emphasized.
Governance
PAC Warns Malawian Government of Waning Public Trust
During an interface meeting with State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace on Monday, PAC Chairperson Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale warned that inaction could result in political instability and potentially harm the President’s chances in the 2025 elections.
The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has warned that the government risks losing public trust if it fails to take immediate and meaningful action to address the country’s current pressing challenges.
Speaking during an interface meeting with State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace on Monday, PAC Chairperson Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale said the lack of action could lead to political instability and jeopardize the President’s prospects in the 2025 elections.
In his remarks, Dr. Thawale acknowledged the government’s achievements in infrastructure development and strengthening international relations.
However, he expressed concern that unresolved issues, particularly corruption, economic hardships, and inefficiencies within the civil service, have significantly eroded public confidence in the administration.
“Your Excellency, we are calling upon you to act on issues of national importance before the public rises against you. Patience has limits,” Dr. Thawale stated, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the nation’s challenges.
Dr. Thawale criticized the perceived inaction on corruption allegations involving high-ranking officials, describing it as a betrayal of the anti-corruption stance that had inspired public hope during the 2020 election campaign.
He noted that the administration’s failure to take decisive action has fueled perceptions of hypocrisy and weakened trust in the government’s ability to uphold transparency and accountability.
The PAC Chair also lamented the rising cost of basic commodities and the declining standard of living, highlighting public dissatisfaction towards the current regime.
He urged the government to support the recently appointed Reserve Bank of Malawi top officials and re-evaluate fiscal policies to stabilize the economy and alleviate the burden on citizens.
The civil service, described as the engine of public service delivery, was identified as another area in need of urgent reform.
Monsignor Thawale pointed to the prolonged vacancies in key positions, such as the Principal Secretary for Administration, as evidence of the administration’s failure to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in public governance.
As the country moves toward the 2025 elections, PAC urged the government to prioritize good governance, cautioning against actions that might be perceived as undemocratic, such as stifling opposition demonstrations.
He warned that poor governance could lead to contested election results and further political instability.
While acknowledging the administration’s notable progress in infrastructure development, the quasi religious body stressed that these achievements are not enough to offset the broader challenges facing the country.
The committee called on President Chakwera to take bold and decisive steps to address these issues, restore public confidence, and secure his legacy.
“The failures are massive and obvious. It is our hope that in the remaining months, you can turn around this perception. The doubt is real,” feared Dr Thawale.
Following the changes to the Cabinet on Wednesday, NGO- Gender Coordination Network (GCN) says with about 35 percent of women in the newly reconstituted Cabinet, the appointing authority President Lazarus Chakwera could’ve done better.
The new Cabinet has 31 members from the previous 27 with seven Deputy Ministers from four and has seen two casualties in former Defense Minister Harry Mkandawire and UTM legislator and former Deputy Minister Nancy Chaola Mdoko.
The new 31 member Cabinet has 23 Ministers and seven deputies comprising eight women as Ministers and four deputies.
Chairperson for NGO-GCN Maggie Kathewera Banda expressed concern with the composition of women arguing that the Gender Equality Act advocates for a 60-40 percent of men and women representation in leadership positions.
“The representation of women has Iowered a bit, it’s about 35 percent which is not according to the Malawi Gender Equality Act; so it’s a bit disappointing though they’re still women there but I think it’s now what we had expected.
“And actually for me I’m saying all the time that the 40-60 quotas they can actually be the other way round, because it says in every public appointments, there should not be more than 60 percent and not less than 40 percent of either sex”
Public Affairs Committee (PAC) Spokesperson Bishop Gilford Matonga says the President has acted contrally to their request made during one of their meetings on the need to dissolve the Cabinet and replace old members with new blood to propel development in order to serve the aspirations of the public.
He also criticized President Chakwera for not living to his campaign promise of a lean Cabinet noting the current one doesn’t make economic sense.
“He’s done Cabinet reshuffle which is commendable in one way or another; but the challenge that Public Affairs Committee has is that there hasn’t been a lot of change in the Cabinet appointed. So in his current Cabinet that has been appointed, we still have Ministers who we haven’t heard in the past years what their achievements have been in their Ministries.
“So the agenda of transforming this country seems to be derailed and the Cabinet appointed doesn’t make economic sense because the numbers of Ministers continue to increase. It may make more of political sense in the sense of appeasement of certain individuals but it doesn’t really make economic sense per se”
Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) Lilongwe East Member of Parliament Ezekiel Ching’oma and the Party’s Spokesperson Dr. Jessie Kabwira are some of the notable new faces.
Ching’oma takes over the portfolio of Homeland Security from former Minister Zikhale Ng’oma who has now moved to Mining while Kabwira heads the newly created Ministry of Higher Education.
Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s Joyce Chitsulo from Mwanza west has been appointed Deputy Minister of Local Government Culture and Unity.
Lilongwe South parliamentarian Peter Dimba is now Deputy Minister of Transport and Public Works while former Zomba central lawmaker Patricia Nangozo Kainga is Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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