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South dominates JB’s Cabinet

President Joyce Banda’s new Cabinet is dominated by ministers from the South. The region has 13 full ministers and two deputy ministers, representing 46.88 percent of the entire 32-member Cabinet.

The Centre, with four full ministers and six deputy ministers, has 31.25 percent of the Cabinet whereas the North which has six full ministers and one deputy minister comprise 21.87 percent of the Cabinet.

Although Banda’s Cabinet is dominated by the South, it has not reached the extent of her predecessor’s Cabinet which had over 50 percent of the ministers from that region.

The Cabinet is as follows: Ministers from the South: the President herself who is responsible for the Public Service, Statutory Corporations, Civil Service Administration, National Relief and Disaster Management and Nutrition and HIV and Aids, Dr Ken Lipenga for Finance, Eunice Kazembe for Education, Anita Kalinde for Gender, Sidik Mia for Transport, Moses Kunkuyu for Information, Atupele Muluzi for Economic Planning, Richie Muheya for Water Development and Irrigation, John Bande for Industry and Trade, Henry Phoya for Lands and Housing, Grace Maseko for Local Government and Rural Development, Reen Kachere for Disability and the Elderly and Eunice Makangala for Labour.

From the Centre: Cassim Chilumpha for Energy and Mining, Uladi Mussa for Home Affairs, Ken Kandodo for Defence and Daniel Liwimbi for Tourism and Culture.

From the North: Khumbo Kachali for Health, who is also Vice-President, Ralph Kasambara for Justice and also Attorney General, Ephraim Chiume for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Peter Mwanza for Agriculture and Food Security, Catherine Gotani Hara for Environment and Climate Change and Enoch Chihana for Youth and Sports.

Deputy ministers are Khwauli Msiska [Economic Planning and Development] from the North, Ibrahim Matola [Environment and Climate Change] and Jennifer Chilunga [Gender] from the South.

The Centre has Ralph Jooma [Finance], Augustine Mtendere [Local Government and Rural Development], Sosten Gwengwe [Transport and Public Works], Chikumbutso Hiwa [Education, Science and Technology], Ulemu Chilapondwa [Agriculture and Food Security] and Rachel Zulu [Foreign Affairs].

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