Malawi’s new President Lazarus Chakwera has put his new cabinet ministers on notice, saying they have to deliver to the country’s citizens or they will lose their positions.
Chakwera made the remarks in response to criticism of his cabinet by some Malawians who accused him of nepotism.
The new cabinet, unveiled earlier this week, includes a husband and his wife as well as other people who are closely related.
The president’s former running mate in the 2019 elections, Sidik Mia, has been appointed minister for transport and his wife Abida Mia is the deputy minister for lands.
In an interview with BBC, the new Malawi leader acknowledged that the critics “may have a point [but]… both of them are accomplished politicians” in their own right,
But Chakwera said all ministries will be reviewed and the minister’s continued stay in the cabinet will depend on their performance.
“This is going to be reviewed, because you have to deliver, you have to work so that you are contributing this process of rebuilding and if you don’t you are out,” he said.
The 65-year-old was sworn in last Sunday for a five-year term after defeating former president Peter Mutharika in a run-off vote after courts annulled the result of the previous election.
Chakwera garnered 58.57 percent of the vote, with a voter turnout of over 64 percent.
