LILONGWE – Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday postponed the announcement of a new cabinet line-up, saying he needed more time.
His office said he had received cabinet assessment reports from Vice-President Saulos Chilima on Wednesday and could not make the changes immediately – as the reports were substantial and needed the president’s “thorough review.” “Given that the reports are as substantial as the President’s review is thorough, the completion of the task will take a few more days longer than anticipated,” a statement by the presidential press secretary Brian Banda noted.
The president had on Monday told Malawians that there would be a cabinet reshuffle in 48 hours. He has now asked for patience, saying he will announce the Cabinet “the instant he completes this sacred duty in a manner that conforms with the constitution.” In Tanzania, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has reshuffled her cabinet more than a week after she was sworn in following the death of President John Magufuli.
The cabinet includes some new faces. Among them are career diplomat Liberata Mulamula who now takes over as Foreign Affairs minister, replacing long-serving minister, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, who returns to his previous Justice and Constitutional Affairs portfolio. Mulamula was Tanzania’s former ambassador to the United States. She is the second woman to serve in that position after Dr Asha-Rose Migiro who served between 2006 and 2007.
Mwigulu Nchemba, who was the minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, now becomes the minister of Finance, filling the position that was left vacant following the appointment of Dr Philip Mpango as Vice-President.
President Samia said a major reshuffle was not necessary since most of the current ministers were recently sworn in. She announced the cabinet changes during the swearing-in ceremony of the new vice-president. – BBC.
