Abide by oath, Lazarus Chakwera tells new ministers
President Lazarus Chakwera has asked the 10 newly appointed Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers to abide by the oath of office they took Thursday.
Chakwera warned them to expect both exciting and painful moments.
The 10 were sworn in Thursday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe following their appointments on February 1.
He challenged them to protect the Constitution even if it means sacrificing affection.
“If you do not choose the Constitution, either out of a desire to be popular or out of fear of what it will cost you, you will find yourself on the wrong side of the law, and I want you to know that that is a side on which I will not join you, despite the great favour and affection I hold for you today,” he said.
Chakwera told the ministers that he has made painful decisions as President to protect the Constitution.
“So, although those of you who have taken your oath of office today know that this oath is sacred, solemn and serious, I feel duty-bound to remind you that keeping this oath will sometimes be a painful and unpopular thing to do,” he said.
Newly appointed Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu said he would make sure that Malawians have access to information.
“In order to serve people, we need to give people information and receive information so that the country remains well informed because, in a well-informed nation, leaders and society make good decisions,” Kunkuyu said.
The new faces in the cabinet are Kunkuyu, who is the Minister of Information; Ken Zikhale Ng’oma for Homeland Security; Uchizi Mkandawire for Youth and Sports; and Simplex Chithyola Banda for Trade and Industry.
Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima is the Minister of Education, Deus Gumba for Lands, Monica Chang’anamuno is Mining Minister, Harry Mkandawire for Defence.
New deputy ministers are Owen Chomanika for Local Government, Unity and Culture and Liana Chapota Kakhobwe for Water and Sanitation.
Mathews Kasanda is a journalist who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from University of Malawi (The Polytechnic).
In 2015, Media Institute of Southern Africa awarded him the Best Print Media Education Journalist of the Year accolade.
He joined Times Group Newsroom in September 2019.
