from MAVHUTO BANDA in Lilongwe, Malawi
Malawi Bureau
LILONGWE, (CAJ News) – MALAWI’S new government is accused of nepotism in key appointments.
The accusation by the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) smacks of tribalism by the newly elected Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Peter Mutharika.
MCP accuses the government of prioritising officials from the south in its appointments.
MCP, voted out of office last month, commented following the appointment of Chief Secretary, Justin Saidi, and Deputy Chief Secretary Stewart Ligomeka, which it pointed out were from the south.
By these appointments, it said the government was “now busy infesting the public service with people from the south.”
“Ironically, they campaigned on the promise of equitable distribution of opportunities. Welcome to the era of proven nepotism, tribalism and regionalism.”
The opposition party said so far, out of the five ministers appointed, four were from the south, namely George Chaponda (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Roza Fatch Mbilizi (Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development), Joseph Mwanamvekha (Finance and Economic Affairs) and George Partridge (Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism).
Mutharika is from the southern Thyolo.
The southern region is largely Lomwe, the third largest ethnic group after the Chewa and Tumbuka.
– CAJ News