Exactly three months after taking office, President Peter Mutharika Monday announced a Cabinet reshuffle, barely weeks after completing his initial appointments in late October last year.
The changes, which include the appointment of four deputy ministers, have expanded the size of the Cabinet from 24 to 28.
The move signals an early reorganisation of the government aimed at realigning key portfolios and accommodating new faces within the administration.
Among the notable changes, Mutharika has abolished the Ministry of State position that had been held by Democratic Progressive Party vice president for the Central Region Alfred Gangata.
In addition, the President has split the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining into two separate entities, creating the Ministry of Energy and Mining and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
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Following the restructuring, Gangata has been appointed Natural Resources Minister.
The reshuffle has also involved a series of portfolio swaps among senior ministers. For instance, Jappie Mhango has been moved from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to that of Transport and Public Works while Feston Kaupa has been moved from Transport to Defence.
Former Defence Minister Chimwemwe Chipungu has taken over the Lands portfolio.
New appointments at deputy minister level include those of Charles Chilambula in Health and Sanitation, Edgar Tembo in Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, Thoko Tembo in Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and Chipiliro Mpinganjira in Natural Resources.
