President Lazarus Chakwera has dissolved his Cabinet ahead of today’s general election.
Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba said in a statement last evening that the President made the decision in exercise of the powers vested in him by Section 95 (2) of the Constitution.
“Following the dissolution of the Cabinet, all ministerial powers shall vest in and be exercised by His Excellency the President,” reads the statement.
The statement further advised members of the public to direct all queries requiring the attention of Cabinet ministers to the Office of the President and Cabinet.
The dissolution yesterday evening came hours after the close of the 60-day official campaign for the September 16 General Election at 6am on Sunday.
Meanwhile, political analyst Ernest Thindwa said yesterday that the Cabinet should have been dissolved the moment the campaign period started on July 14.
While acknowledging that the President has powers to dissolve Cabinet at any time, he said dissolving Cabinet a day before polling raises questions about fairness.
Said Thindwa: “When one party, particularly the ruling party, has opportunity to use public resources during the campaign, then the playing field has not been levelled.”
Chakwera, who is representing the governing Malawi Congress Party, is among 17 presidential candidates in today’s polls.
