JUSTIFICATION ON THE PRESIDENT’S CABINET

Political analysts in the country have backed President Peter Mutharika’s appointment of a 20man cabinet despite some people criticizing him of nepotism.
Political parties and some analysts have argued that Mutharika’s merits in appointing the cabinet members is based on a majority of Lhomwes from the southern region. A Political Science Lecturer at Chancellor College, Joseph Chunga told Capital radio that the duties of those selected is the capabilities to perform rather than the district of origin.
Chunga also said main issue is to focus when appointing people to public positions regardless of their tribal lines or home of origin.
The appointment of Atupele Muluzi to be sworn in as Minister for example “To this extent I think maybe to some concerns may not necessarily be valid because if you go to ask whether the people that have been appointed are not capable”.
“I think there could be various answers depending on the individual,” Said Chunga.
Among others, Mutharika’s 20 members Cabinet includes; Minister of Gender, Children social welfare and disability Patricia Kaliati who comes from Mulanje, Minister of transport and Public Works Francis Kasayira from Nsanje while Minister of Education Science and Technology Emmanuel Fabiano, is from Chiradzulu. Goodall Gondwe who is the Minister of Finance Economic planning and Development comes from the north and Jean Kalirani comes from the central region is Minister of health.
Other analysts are having argued that president Mutharika made the appointments deliberately to please his political allies.
Chunga further acknowledged that the concerns may be because the popularity of the former regime of the DPP under the late Bingu Wa Mutharika was affiliated mostly with his tribe the Lhomwe.
“The main thing is that people may be raising those concerns due to coming from a previous DPP government that was largely towards its end identified with nepotistic appointments and decisions.
“It is the right of the people to be worried because it may seem we are getting back to where during the previous regime”.
“And seriously those who may be raising these concerns may be worrying about the possibilities of state capture a situation where a certain tribal group dominates among some of the minorities or a certain region dominates’.
Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) Executive Director, John Kapito also argued that people should not judge those appointed into cabinet based on the district of origin but rather on their capability to deliver.