Malawian president dissolves cabinet over allegations of corruption | Corruption News

President Chakwera has made the move amid allegations of corruption, nepotism and mismanagement of his party.

President of Malawi Lazarus Chakwera has disbanded the country’s entire cabinet amid allegations of corruption against several ministers, he said in a statement to the nation.

On Monday night, President Chakwera said he had decided to face three ministers and other public officials accused of corruption.

“I immediately dismantled my entire cabinet, and all cabinet functions are returned to my office within two days until a reconfigured cabinet is announced,” Chakwera said at the national address.

He added that the reconfigured cabinet would exclude Land Minister Kezzie Msukwa, who was arrested in a bribery case last month.

Msukwa, a UK-based Malawian businessman, has been accused of profiting from his involvement in land deals.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ken Kandodo has been accused of misappropriating COVID-19 funds and Energy Minister Newton Kambala has been accused of disrupting the fuel import supply.

The ECM, the assembly of Catholic bishops in Malawi, said authorities must ensure that no one is “pressured, intimidated or influenced” to seek justice.

“Don’t let them protect or protect any suspects, powerful people, rich people or whatever their connections are,” the bishops said in a statement.

Continuous crisis

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with nearly three-quarters of the population living on less than $ 2 a day.

The South African nation is one of the smallest countries on the continent hard hit by floods. long dry periods, crop pests and the coronavirus pandemic, leaving 15 percent of the population in need of food aid.

Although small in size, it is among the top 10 in Africa in terms of population density.

Chakwera, also head of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the country’s oldest and largest government Tonse Alliance, said he would seek the reinstatement of a new cabinet in the next 48 hours.

He confronted the growing insurgency within the coalition, with many members accusing his party of pushing corruption, nepotism and the country to the brink of economic crisis.

The president’s decision came after the arrest of three former officials of the ruling Progressive Democratic Party, including the former finance minister and central bank governor, who were his main challenges for the 2025 election.