Malawi President Mrs Joyce Banda swore in new cabinet ministers on Monday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, four days after a mini-Cabinet reshuffle.
Banda’s reshuffle saw former vice-president Cassim Chilumpha sacked as energy minister in and Daniel Liwimbi was also dropped as Tourism Minister.
Among the new ministers taking the oath of office were former International Monetary Fund (IMF) economist Goodall Gondwe, as the new Minister of Economic Planning and Development.
Gondwe, who was Finance Minister under the late President Mutharika, has replaced Atupele Muluzi, son of former president Bakili Muluzi, who last month resigned his cabinet job under protest after his cabinet colleagues derided his presidential ambitions.
President Banda thanked Gondwe for accepting to work in her government, describing him as a man of great service.
“Honourable Gondwe you didn’t need a job but thank you for accepting to work with this government and we all know how much work you did in improving the Malawi economy in 2004, we don’t have much time let us work extra hard to resuscitate the economy an am very hopeful we will succeed,” said President Banda.
Goodall Gondwe bows to President Banda: Ready to work for economic recovery
Also taking oath was Ibrahim Matola who has replaced Chilumpha .
Others who took were Sosten Gwengwe as Minister of Industry and Trade.
New deputy ministers also took oath, they included Godfrey Kamanya (Environment and Climate Change), Abel Kayembe (Foreign Affairs), Sam Ganda (Industry and Trade), Chimango Mughogho (Transport and public works) and Agness Chatipwa (Gender and Child affairs).
President Banda called on newly sworn in cabinet ministers to work extra hard for the betterment of people
She said there is need for the cabinet to work together in order to achieve the Economic Recovery Plan and its intended purpose-to economically empower the local people.
“Sometimes you hear one cabinet minister contradicting the other, please let us speak with one voice,” appealed President Banda.
The Malawi leader appealed to both new and old ministers to work towards the common goal and avoid stabbing each other at the back.
“If you come with gossip to me, it’s you who will go,” advised President Banda.
President Banda said each ministry will continue giving reports of what each ministry is doing in the Recovery Plan.
State House Press Officer Brian Banda speaking to Nyasa Times said the event very colorful.
“What is important to note is that President Banda has included both the young and the elderly in the new cabinet. The inclusion of young ministers like Sosten Gwengwe gives hope to young ones that it is indeed possible to live your dream,” said Brian Banda.
This is the first time Banda, Africa’s second female president, has made a cabinet change since taking office in April following the sudden death of President Mutharika.
Gwengwe: Takes an oath of office
Matola: Takes his oath
Kamanya taking his oath