By Wadza Botomani
The announcement of Peter Mutharika’s new cabinet has sent a ripple of conflicting emotions across the nation, revealing a deeply divided public perception of the former president’s political strategy.
While the move to trim the cabinet to a leaner seventeen ministers and three deputies has been met with cautious approval from some quarters, this positive sentiment is heavily tempered by significant and vocal criticism. The streamlined size is seen by some as a welcome departure from bloated government structures, a potential signal of fiscal responsibility and a focus on efficient governance at a time when the country demands it.
However, this applause is quickly drowned out by louder voices raising serious allegations. A prominent critique is that the cabinet is less a team of competent leaders and more a reward for political cronies, a circle of loyalists being insulated within the halls of power. This perception is further inflamed by a noticeable regional imbalance, with a majority of the appointed ministers hailing from the Southern Region, fueling accusations of entrenched nepotism and a failure to foster a truly national and inclusive government.
The most potent source of public anxiety, however, lies in the specific portfolios granted to certain individuals. The appointment of figures like Chisale and Mukhitho, whose pasts are subjects of public scrutiny and controversy, to critical homeland security ministries has been met with disbelief. For many citizens, entrusting the nation’s internal security to individuals with questionable records is not just a misstep but a fundamental compromise of the ministry’s integrity.
The new cabinet, therefore, stands not as a unifying force but as a Rorschach test for Malawians, with some seeing a promise of efficiency and others a portrait of familiar political vices. Its ultimate legacy will depend on which of these reactions proves to be the more accurate prophecy.
