By John Ikani
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has dissolved the country’s entire Cabinet amid charges of corruption against several ministers.
Chakwera told the nation in a televised address that “all the functions of Cabinet revert to my office until I announce a reconfigured Cabinet in two days.”
He vowed to “confront all forms of lawless conduct by public officials.”
Three ministers are facing charges including the Minister of Lands who was arrested last month in a bribery case.
The Labour Minister has been accused of diverting Covid funds and the Energy Minister of meddling with fuel deals. All have denied the allegations.
Mr Chakwera was elected in 2020 promising to fight corruption.
He is the head of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the country’s oldest and the biggest in the governing Tonse Alliance
Chakwera 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.
Last week two powerful church groups told him he was not doing enough to tackle the problem.’
