Malawi President Joyce Banda on Monday told her first Cabinet to avoid gossip and refrain from telling Malawians lies. She also warned that corrupt ministers will be chopped.
She was speaking in Lilongwe during the swearing-in ceremony of her Cabinet which she appointed last week.
“The day you will come to gossip about someone I will call that person. I [also] expect a report every month. I intend to run, so run with me; the economy is in a mess. I expect you to be servants of the people,” said Banda in her brief speech..
On the new team, the President acknowledged it is a “great political risk” that nobody has ever undertaken in Malawi’s political history. She said it is a mixture of experience, fresh ideas and women empowerment.
Earlier, Chief Secretary to Government Bright Msaka said the name of Dowa South East MP Halima Daudi was inadvertently omitted from last week’s Cabinet announcement. He said she is Deputy Minister of Health. This brings the number of Cabinet members to 33.
Huge shouts of approval filled the New State House banquet hall when names of ministers such as Atupele Muluzi, Anita Kalinde, Enock Chakufwa Chihana, Ibrahim Matola and Sosten Gwengwe were called to take their oath.
