Dausi, maize inquiry commissioners sworn in

President Peter Mutharika yesterday challenged new government spokesperson Nicholas Dausi to bridge the information gap that exists between government and its people.

“Malawians out there would like to know what government is doing. We still have many gaps of information in our society,” said Mutharika.

He said that is why he has renamed Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) from Ministry of Information and Civic Education so that the gap can easily be bridged.

He was speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe when he swore in Dausi as Minister of Information and Communications Technology; Lloyd Muhara as Chief Secretary to the Government and newly-appointed commissioners tasked to probe the maize procurement deal involving State grain trader the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) and a Zambian firm.

Mutharika urged the Ministry of Information to champion cyber security as it poses a risk to Malawi.

Said Mutharika: “Your ministry must lead Malawi into the digital age. We are fast becoming a digital generation. This development needs to be encouraged but balanced with discipline and an ethical culture.”

In an interview, Dausi pledged to avail all necessary information about government activities to the masses and to work hand in hand with security stakeholders in ensuring cyber security to Malawians.

Others who were sworn yesterday were newly-appointed High Court Judge Nyakwawa Usiwausiwa, retired Chief Justice Anastazia Msosa who is leading the Maize Procurement Inquiry Commission, Solicitor General Janet Banda, Isaac Kayira and Mike Chinoko who are members of the commission.

On her part retired Chief Secretary Anastazia Msosa said her commission is going to do all necessary inquiries into the maize procurement and will present the report to the State President who is going to decide what happens afterwards. n