Cabinet reshuffle: BJ in, Mwanza axed

Malawi President Joyce Banda has announced a new Cabinet today (Monday evening) with a reduced number of portfolios from 36 to 32.

Among the highlights of the reshuffle is the appointment of People’s Party giant Brown Mpinganjira as new Minister of Water Development and Irrigation replacing Ritchie Muheya who has been dropped.

Peter Mwanza, who was Minister of Agriculture and Food Security has also been left out and replaced by a new face James Munthali. Mpinganjira and Munthali are not Members of Parliament.

Other casualties in the new cabinet include Jennifer Chilunga who was at Environment and Climate Change Management where she has been replaced by Halima Daudi and Khwauli Msiska, formerly deputy minister for Economic Planning.

Also overlooked are former deputy minister for Transport and Public Works Chimango Mughogho and her counterpart at Local Government and Rural Development Augustine Mtendere, reducing the number of deputy ministers from 11 to seven.

In the reshuffle, Godfrey Kamanya, who was deputy for Environment and Climate Change Management, has been moved to Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, while Agnes Mandebvu Chatipwa has shifted from the Ministry of Gender to deputise Catherine Gotani Hara at the Ministry of Health.

All portfolios including those being held by the President and her Vice Khumbo Kachali have remained unchanged.

Reacting to the reshuffle last evening, University of Malawi political commentator Blessings Chinsinga has described the development, noting the financial implications of trimming the Cabinet from 36 to 32.

“It’s a very positive development if the Cabinet has been trimmed, this is a huge saving. And it is coming at the right time looking at the fact that we are starting a new financial year,” said Chinsinga.

Commenting on the new faces being hired and others fired, Chinsinga said there have not been of any significant changes.

“We can say it’s a positive move if the new faces will deliver.”

This is the second Cabinet reshuffle by the President since she was sworn in as President on April 7 2012 soon after the death of her predecessor late Bingu wa Mutharika.

The new Cabinet is as follows:-

Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, President of the Republic of Malawi, Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force and the Malawi Police Service, Minister Responsible for Statutory Corporations, Civil Service Administration, Nutrition, HIV and AIDS, National Registration Programme, and the Green Belt Initiative.

Right Honourable Khumbo Kachali, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Responsible for National Relief and Disaster Management, National Public Events Office, Central Government Stores, and Department of Printing Services.

Honourable Sosten Gwengwe, M.P. – Minister of Industry and Trade

Honourable Mrs. Grace Zinenani Maseko, M.P. – Minister of Local Government and Rural Development

Honourable Dr. Ken Lipenga, M.P. – Minister of Finance

Honourable Dr. James Munthali – Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

Honourable Henry Duncan Phoya, SC, M.P. – Minister of Lands and Housing

Honourable Ephraim Mganda Chiume, M.P. – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Honourable Mohammed Sidik Mia, M.P. – Minister of Transport and Public Works

Honourable Mrs. Eunice Kazembe, M.P. – Minister of Education, Science and Technology

Honourable Mrs. Catherine Gotani Hara, M.P. – Minister of Health

Honourable Mrs. Eunice Makangala, M.P. – Minister of Labour

Honourable Ralph Kasambara, SC, – Minister of Justice

Honourable Mrs. Anita Kalinde, M.P. – Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare

Honourable Ken Edward Kandodo, M.P. – Minister of Defence

Honourable Uladi Mussa, M.P. – Minister of Home Affairs

Honourable John Bande, M.P. – Minister of Mining

Honourable Ibrahim Matola, M.P. – Minister of Energy

Honourable Ralph Pachalo Jooma, M.P. – Minister of Economic Planning and Development

Honourable Moses Kunkuyu Kalongashawa, M.P. – Minister of Information

Honourable Mrs. Rachel Patience Mazombwe Zulu, M.P.– Minister of Tourism and Culture

Honourable Mrs. Halima Daud, M.P. –Minister of Environment and Climate Change Management

Honourable Enock Chakufwa K. Chihana, M.P. –Minister of Youth and Sports

Honourable Mrs. Reen Kachere, M.P. – Minister of Disability and Elderly Affairs

Honourable Brown Mpinganjira – Minister of Water Development and Irrigation

Honourable Sam Sem Ganda, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade

Honourable Godfrey Jeff Kamanya, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development

Honourable Dr. Cornelius Mwalwanda, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Finance

Honourable Jermoth Ulemu Chilapondwa, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

Honourable Ephraim Abel Kayembe, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Honourable Chikumbutso John Hiwa, M.P. – Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology

Honourable Mrs. Agness Mandebvu Chatipwa, M.P. – Deputy of Health