Lazarus Chakwera, the president of Malawi, revealed in an address to the nation that the country’s entire cabinet had been dissolved due to allegations of corruption against numerous ministers.
President Chakwera said late on Monday that he had decided to allow the three ministers and other public officials accused of corruption to face their charges.
“I have dissolved my entire cabinet effective immediately, and all the functions of cabinet revert to my office until I announce a reconfigured cabinet in two days,” Chakwera said in a national address.
He also said that Minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa, who was detained last month in connection with a bribery investigation, will not be a part of the newly formed cabinet.
Msukwa is charged with profiting from land deals involving a Malawian businessman based in the UK
Ken Kandodo, the minister of labor, is being accused of misusing COVID-19 funding, and Newton Kambala, the minister of energy, is being accused of interfering with the selection of fuel import contracts.
Authorities must make sure that no one is “pressurized, intimidated, or persuaded” in the pursuit of justice, according to ECM, an assembly of Malawi’s Catholic bishops.
The bishops issued a statement saying, “Let no suspect, however powerful, wealthy, or who their connections are, be shielded or protected.”
Chakwera, who is also the leader of the oldest and largest party in the Tonse Alliance government, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), said he planned to reinstate a new cabinet within the next 48 hours.
The president’s decision came close on the heels of the arrest of three former officials of the former governing party Democratic Progressive Party, which included the former finance minister and central bank governor, touted to be his prime challengers for the election scheduled in 2025.
Author-Roberta Appiah
