President Peter Mutharika has moved swiftly to assemble his administration, unveiling a partial Cabinet just weeks after his inauguration. His latest appointments, which include the merging of several ministries and the return of former officials, have drawn both commendation and concern from governance experts.
On Thursday, Mutharika named former Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) deputy commissioner general Roza Fatch Mbilizi as Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, and former private sector executive George Partridge as Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism.
Earlier, Mutharika—who staged a political comeback in the September 16 General Election with 56.8 percent of the vote against Lazarus Chakwera’s 33 percent—appointed Joseph Mwanamvekha as Finance Minister and George Chaponda as Foreign Affairs Minister, both of whom held the same positions during his first term from 2014 to 2020.
Other appointments include Alfred Gangata as Minister of State and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enock Chihana as Second Vice-President, fulfilling Mutharika’s campaign promise to his Blue Alliance partner.
Governance experts have lauded the consolidation of ministries as a bold structural reform. The merging of related portfolios—such as Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, and Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development—is seen as a move toward efficiency.
Corporate governance expert Anthony Mukumbwa described the restructuring as “a very positive matter” that could yield significant cost savings.
“While staffing may remain largely unchanged, grouping related ministries simplifies policy implementation across sectors,” Mukumbwa said.
Willy Kambwandira, executive director of the Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (Csat), echoed this sentiment, noting that the streamlined structure aligns with Mutharika’s campaign promises and signals fiscal discipline.
“This is a commendable step toward improving efficiency and reducing costs in public administration,” he said.
Despite the praise, concerns persist over the reappointment of individuals previously linked to corruption. Experts warn that such decisions could erode public trust and undermine the President’s credibility in fighting graft.
Kambwandira cautioned that success hinges on effective coordination and clear mandates to prevent overstretching and neglect of key sectors.
He also expressed alarm over the return of officials facing corruption charges, stating: “This creates a perception that government is tolerating or protecting corrupt individuals, which damages the President’s credibility and weakens his anti-corruption agenda.”
Mukumbwa, however, defended the appointments, arguing that individuals are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mbilizi, along with other Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials, is currently answering charges related to the alleged abuse of Mutharika’s taxpayer identification number (TPIN) to import cement worth K5 billion duty-free during his previous tenure.
Unlike previous administrations that announced full Cabinets at once, Mutharika has opted for a phased rollout. While some analysts view this as a strategic move to ensure careful vetting, others warn that delays could hinder policy implementation.
Mukumbwa defended the cautious pace, saying: “Coming from a disastrous regime, expectations are high. Mutharika must be meticulous in his appointments.”
Kambwandira, however, urged urgency: “While strategic, delays risk slowing down the government’s ability to deliver on its promises.”
Partridge’s appointment was widely welcomed, with Mukumbwa praising the inclusion of private-sector expertise in government.
“He brings a results-driven mindset. In government, there must be value for money,” Mukumbwa said. “We’ve seen disasters when ministries are led by individuals with no leadership experience.”
On Mbilizi’s appointment, Mukumbwa added that managerial competence can transcend academic specialization: “One doesn’t need to be a graduate in agriculture to manage the ministry effectively.”
