President Lazarus Chakwera says he is at an advanced stage in reviewing his Cabinet and promised to hire a new, leaner and delivery-focused team within the month of January.

In a New Year Address monitored on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation television last evening, he also announced the appointment of a Presidential Private Sector Council whose members the Office of the President and Cabinet will announce this week.

Chakwera: We have to maximise the nation’s limited resources

The President said the Cabinet will be leaner than his current one with 30 members comprising the President, the Vice-President, 20 ministers and eight deputies.

He said: “What you can expect to see when the announcement is made is a leaner Cabinet, one that is focused on maximising our nation’s limited resources, on improving public service delivery, fast-tracking public works projects under construction and unlocking the sectors of the economy that have the greatest potential for inclusive growth and shared prosperity, especially in agriculture, tourism and mining.”

The President conceded that 2022 was a difficult year for global economies with a sharp rise in the cost of living triggered by disruptions in the supply chain and high inflation on imported commodities. He attributed the situation to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia invasion of Ukraine.

Mutharika: Remember
promises but not fulfilled

Chakwera said despite the challenges and the pain emanating from the situation, his administration made efforts to ensure there was foreign exchange for procuring essential commodities such as fuel and fertiliser and implemented austerity measures to stop the economy from collapsing.

On the Presidential Private Sector Council, he said it will comprise “respected private sector leaders I will be interacting with directly and regularly to appreciate the effectiveness of our economic policies in creating jobs and wealth”.

The President also mentioned cholera and corruption as other threats to development and said he will make further orders after reviewing the report on the arrest of Anti-Corruption Bureau director general Martha Chizuma.

In an earlier Facebook post, Chakwera thanked Malawians for their courage and resilience in 2022 and urged them to work towards improving the country to make it a better place for everyone.

And in a separate message, Vice-President Saulos Chilima wished Malawians boundless prosperity and happiness but also unity and peace.

Patel: Austerity measures
should start from the top

“As we look back to ending 2022 with all manner of its trials and tribulations by all guises of dominions and principalities, we praise God for the triumphs and victories,” said the Veep.

Also posting on his Facebook page, former president Peter Mutharika stated that the New Year is a reminder to Malawians to work for prosperity, justice and security for the nation.

“The New Year is not just a change of calendar, it is also a reminder to set new goals and to work for them. New Year is a reminder to remember the promises made but not fulfilled,” he said.

In an interview, United Democratic Front president Lilian Patel described the year 2022 as being full of challenges, urging government to address challenges that Malawians faced in the past year.

She bemoaned the high cost of living, fertiliser challenges, cyclones, prolonged blackouts and fuel challenges as having affected the country ’s economy.

Patel called on government to implement austerity measures “starting from the top”.

Meanwhile, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation executive director Michael Kaiyatsa has called on government to learn from the mistakes in 2022.

In an interview on Sunday, he said 2022 was a difficult year for Malawians and there is need for action on the part of government to ensure that things improve.

Kaiyatsa observed that government needs to effectively implement austerity measures to save resources and called for a reduction in travels by the President, ministers and other government officials but also reduction of benefits for Cabinet ministers.

The President last reshuffled his Cabinet in January 2022.

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