He also serves as Minister of Defence per Malawian constitution, citation needed he has served as the leader of the Malawi Congress Party since 2013. The president’s decision came close on the heels of the arrest of three former officials of the former governing party Democratic Progressive Party, which included the former finance minister and central bank governor, touted to be his prime challengers for the election scheduled in 2025. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera (born 8 August 1953) is a Malawian theologian and politician who has served as President of Malawi since June 2020. He had been facing increasing rebellion from within the coalition with many of its members accusing his party of corruption, nepotism and pushing the country to the brink of an economic crisis. Though small in size, it features in the top 10 in Africa in terms of population density.Ĭhakwera, who is also the head of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the country’s oldest and the biggest in the governing Tonse Alliance, said he would look to reinstate a new cabinet in the next 48 hours. Chakwera, 65, has for the past seven years led Malawi's oldest party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which ruled the country from 1964 to 1994. ![]() He became the 6th President of Malawi in June 2020. The Southern African nation is amongst the smallest countries in the continent hit hard by floods, prolonged dry spells, crop-destroying pests and the coronavirus pandemic, leaving 15 percent of the population in need of food aid. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera (born 5 April 1955) is a Malawian theologian and politician. Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries, with nearly three-quarters of the population living on less than $2 a day. ![]() ![]() “Let no suspect, however powerful, wealthy or who their connections are, be shielded or protected,” the bishops said in a statement. In February, Malawi’s president fired 28 heads of district councils for abuse of the $8 million COVID fund.Ĭhakwera on Sunday also suspended pay for all officials connected to the abuse of funds and said that disciplinary proceedings should begin within two weeks.Meanwhile, Labour Minister Ken Kandodo is accused of diverting COVID-19 funds and Energy Minister Newton Kambala was accused of meddling in the awarding of fuel import deals.ĮCM, an assembly of Malawi’s Catholic bishops, said authorities must ensure that no one is “pressurised, intimidated or influenced” in the pursuit of justice. But to me it’s an indication of the huge task that befalls the president to accomplish what he has just started yesterday as far as this fight against corruption and malpractice on government resources is concerned,” he said. “What has happened is commendable job that the president has begun. “So, I want all the thieves hiding in the civil service to mark my words: If the finger of evidence points to you as one of the thieves who stole COVID money for saving lives while hundreds of our people were dying of COVID, you are going to prison," Chakwera said.Ī Malawi police statement released Sunday night said those arrested would face charges, including “theft by a public servant,” and could be punished with hard labor if found guilty.ĭespite the small amount of money, and Kandodo’s refunding it, critics of corruption say his firing sends the right message.īlantyre International University political science lecturer Sheriff Kaisi says it should help to deter official fraud. ![]() Visibly angry, Chakwera warned that anyone connected to fraudulent use of the $8 million fund would face consequences. And I cannot have in my Cabinet any individuals who either spend money budgeted for one thing on something else or do not ask tough questions to ensure that the money they are spending on something was budgeted for that purpose,” he said. “Even though the minister has since returned the money, his usage of the funds means that the money was unavailable for its intended purpose when it was needed most. In a televised national address Sunday evening, the president said the firing, and arrest of 19 other officials, was to show that no corruption would be tolerated. FILE - Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera takes the oath of office in Lilongwe, Malawi, June 28, 2020. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera (Lilongué, 5 de abril de 1955) é um teólogo e político do Maláui, atual presidente do país desde 2020, após ser eleito nas eleições presidenciais daquele ano. Chakwera, 65, secured the required majority, with 58.57 percent of Tuesday’s vote, the electoral commission said, beating the incumbent Peter Mutharika.
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