A press release issued by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC)
yesterday confirmed reports that the six–who had opted to stand as
independent Parliamentary candidates in their constituencies in the
forthcoming general elections–were on the verge of losing their
ministerial posts.
In exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Section 95 (2) of
the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, His Excellency Ngwazi Dr.
Bingu wa Mutharika…has directed that the following are no longer
deputy ministers and members of the Cabinet with immediate effect,
reads part of the statement.
The six are Richard Msowoya (Education Science and Technology
responsible for Higher Education, Science and Technology), Olive
Masanza (Education Science and Technology responsible for Primary and
Secondary Education), Gift Mwamondwe (Energy and Mines), Roy Chizimba
(Economic Planning and Development), Billy Kaunda (Tourism, Wildlife
and Culture) and Patricia Papano Mwafulirwa (Women and Child
Development).
With the Msowoya, who announced his resignation from the DPP and the
Ministry on Thursday, the rest were yet to be communicated to on the
chop.
When contacted yesterday, Masanza–who had earlier said she never
expected the chop because her situation was different–intoned that she
was yet to receive official communication from the OPC and would not
comment on the matter until then.
I heard that they wrote the letters but there was a delay in sending
them because they had a mistake which was to be corrected.
I will get back to you once I have received and read my letter, said Masanza.
Mwamondwe–who said he too had not been communicated to, said he was
not disappointed as the President has the prerogative to hire and fire
members of his Cabinet.
If this is indeed true, then all I can say is that I am grateful to
the President for including me in his Cabinet for the past year. He is
a very loving man. There are no hard feelings as this is a
constitutional matter and I respect his decision, said Mwamondwe.
Kaunda, who earlier told The Nation that he was not bitter after being
sacked from the party as his loyalty is to the President, could not be
reached for comment as his phone was out of reach.
Chizimba and Mwafulirwa's mobile phones were also out of reach.
There was no immediate communication from the OPC regarding the filling
of the six vacancies. Msowoya and Masanza were deputising the President
in the Education Ministry.