President Laz’s Cabinet; A Mixed Bag of Hope and Disappointments

As criticisms continue to pour on President Lazarus Chakwera’s cabinet, good governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali has said the cabinet is a bag of hope and disappointments.

Yesterday president Chakwera, named a 31 member cabinet which has attracted mixed reactions from the general public.

Writing on his Facebook page, Munthali said the president would have done much better than what he has done citing an example of including 2 people of the same family in the cabinet.

“The inclusion of 2 members from same family should have been avoided,” said Munthali.

This follows the appointment of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vice president Sidik Mia and his wife Abida in the cabinet.

Munthali added that it also would have been better if some of the ministries were combined at the same point minimizing the size of the cabinet.

“Ministries should have been combined and hence reducing the size of the Cabinet. Where were advisors?” questions Munthali.

On a positive side, Munthali said the appointment of United Transformation Movement (UTM) vice president Michael Usi, Citizen for Transformation (CFT) Timothy Mtambo is somehow refreshing.

“Having said that, I am refreshed by the inclusion of Dr Michael Usi, Hon. Lobin Lowe, Comrade Timothy Pagonachi Mtambo, Hon. Ulemu Msungama, Gospel Kazako, Vera and others,” he added.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has said it is planning to engage president Chakwera to discuss with him the disappointments his cabinet has triggered.