Vice President office not on cabinet list

Tom Sangala November 8, 2018

575 2 minutes read

By Madalitso Musa:

President Peter Mutharika Wednesday announced changes to his Cabinet with the most notable, albeit expected, omission of the Office of the Vice President which is held by Saulos Chilima.

“His Excellency the President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 94(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, has made some changes to the Cabinet with effect from 7th November, 2018,” reads the press release signed by Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara.
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Chilima quit the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to form UTM. However, according to the Constitution of Malawi, the president does not have power to fire his deputy.

Second on the list, which is normally occupied by the Vice President, is Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe.

Mutharika has maintained a 20-member Cabinet which has the majority of faces that have been there since the last reshuffle in July last year.

A notable casualty is Anna Kachikho who has been fired and replaced by Jean Kalilani as Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development.

New entrants in the Cabinet are Welani Chilenga who is now Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Energy and Mining, and DPP regional governor for the Southern Region, Charles Mchacha, who is deputising Nicholas Dausi at the Ministry of Homeland Security— formerly Ministry of Home Affairs. Dausi has been moved to the renamed ministry and has been replaced at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology by Henry Mussa. According to the press statement, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs will be under the Ministry of Homeland Security.

Another new entrant is Amoni Mailosi who has been roped in as Deputy Minister of Defence.

Ntcheu North East Member of Parliament, Everton Chimulirenji has been promoted to Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development from Deputy Minister of Defence. He has replaced Cecilia Chazama who is now heading the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare.

Another change has seen Grace Chiumia returning to the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development which was held by Francis Kasaila who has been moved to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

The Office of the President has also announced that Kalekeni Kaphale will return as Attorney General following the resignation of Charles Mhango.

FULL CABINET LIST

President, Minister of Defence and Commander-In- Chief of the Malawi Defence Force=Peter Mutharika
Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development=Goodall Gondwe
Minister of Information and Communications Technology=Henry Mussa
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development=Jean Kalilani
Minister of Local Government and Rural Deve lopment=Kondwani Nankhumwa
Minister of Health and Population=Atupele Muluzi
Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism=Francis Kasaila
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development=Joseph Mwanamvekha
Minister of Education, Science and Technology= Bright Msaka
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs=Samuel Tembenu
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation=Emmanuel Fabiano
Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development=Grace Chiumia
Minister of Transport and Public Works=Jappie Mhango
Minister of Homeland Security=Nicholas Dausi
Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare= Cecilia Chazama
Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining=Aggrey Masi
Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development=Everton Chimulireni
Deputy Minister of Homeland Security=Charles Mchacha
Deputy Minister of Defence=Amos Mailosi
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Energy