President Chakwera dissolves entire cabinet over corruption

BLANTYRE – President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi has dissolved his entire cabinet with immediate effect following allegations of corruption against three ministers.

A new cabinet will be announced within 48 hours.

President Chakwera said he had taken the decision to allow the three ministers and other officials accused of corruption to face their charges.

The three Cabinet Ministers include Country Secretary Kezzie Msukwa, accused of profiting from land deals with a UK-based Malawian businessman, Labor Secretary Ken Kandodo, accused of misappropriating COVID- 19, and Energy Secretary Newton Kambala, who is accused of interfering in the adjudication of fuel import bids.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, almost three quarters of the population lives on less than 2 dollars a day.

The South African nation is one of the smallest countries on the continent, hard hit by floods, prolonged droughts, crop-destroying pests and the coronavirus pandemic, leaving 15% of the population dependent on food aid.

Although small, it is among the top ten in Africa in terms of population density.

Chakwera, who is also leader of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the country’s oldest and largest party within the ruling Tonse Alliance, said he would seek to re-establish a new cabinet in the next 48 hours.

He has faced growing rebellion within the coalition, with many of its members accusing his party of corruption and nepotism, pushing the country to the brink of economic crisis.

The president’s decision follows the arrest of three former officials of the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party, including the former finance minister and central bank governor, who have been touted as his top contenders in the 2025 election.

The presidency of President Chakwera was marked by corruption, nepotism, incompetence, departures and arrivals from megalomaniac airports!