afrol News, 14 June - Malawi's new President, Bingu wa Mutharika, finally has appointed a new government that may win a majority approval in the opposition dominated parliament. While including several opposition leaders, President Mutharika also resisted pressure from ex-President Muluzi.

President Mutharika almost spent one month to decide on Malawi's new cabinet after his controversial election in May. The former World Bank economist had an uneasy task. He needed to check pressure from ex-President Bakili Muluzi - who handpicked him as his successor - and had his own idea on how Malawi was to be ruled in future.

Further, President Mutharika cannot automatically count on the support of Malawi's newly elected parliament. His United Democratic Front (UDF) only won 49 out of 193 parliamentary seats, and the party is still headed by ex-President Muluzi. The opposition originally was not sympathetic to Mr Mutharika, opposition leader Gwanda Chakuamba even challenging the poll results in court.

Under this double fire, Malawi's new leader spent the time he needed to name a cabinet capable of finding new solutions to the country's grave financial troubles and emphasising Mr Mutharika's independent line, while still pleasing the ex-President and the opposition. Additionally, the appointments had to be based on "individual merit, religion and gender balance," according to the presidency.

Malawi's new government is lean and only contains 21 ministers and eight deputies, compared to ex-President Mulizi's 46-member ministerial cabinet. According to the Malawi weekly 'Chronicle', Mr Muluzi had urged President Mutharika to appoint a 34-strong cabinet - in contrast to the new Malawian leader's election promise to appoint "an appropriate sized cabinet based on merit."

Keeping the cabinet down in size, President Mutharika vowed to head the Defence Ministry and the Civil Service on his own. Vice President Cassim Chilumpha has taken personal charge of Statutory Corporations, which oversees Malawi's parastatals. Several ministries and the office of Second Vice President have been cut altogether.

Pleasing the ex-President, his former economic adviser Goodall Gondwe has been named Finance Minister in the new cabinet. Mr Gondwe however also is named on personal merit, being a former IMF director for Africa. Only eight out of Mr Mulizi's 46 ministers however made it to the new cabinet.

President Mutharika's new government, which needs to be approved in parliament, also draws experienced politicians from the opposition. Three party colleagues of opposition leader Chakuamba are given ministerial posts, while Mr Chakuamba himself has declared his unwillingness to participate in government. He however has withdrawn his court challenge to Mr Mutharika's election win and now vows to support the new President.

Also Chakufwa Chihana, leader of the opposition Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), has been appointed to government, taking over the important Ministry of Agriculture in accordance with earlier proposals made by ex-President Muluzi.

Together, President Mutharika's UDF party, Mr Chakuamba's Mgwirizano Coalition, AFORD and some of the 38 independent MPs are believed to give the new government a solid majority in parliament.

This will leave the former ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) the country's true opposition party. The MCP - which has 59 seats and thus is the biggest parliamentary group - is headed by John Tembo, who came second in the presidential polls and is currently challenging the poll results at court.

President Mutharika, according to 'The Chronicle', originally had invited Mr Tembo to participate in his cabinet as Second Vice President. The MCP however late last month issued a statement saying it sought to form an opposition alliance in- and outside parliament to effectively act as a check on the ruling parties.

Malawi's new government is hailed by national media and foreign observers as a good choice to find new solutions to the impoverished country. Special praise is given to the cut in cabinet members, the broad economic experience of President Mutharika and Finance Minister Gondwe and the emphasis on personal merit.

Malawi is one of the world's poorest countries, so far failing to recover from the financially disastrous 30-year dictatorship of ex-President Kamuzu Banda. During the ten-year rule of President Muluzi, Malawi first attracted significant international financial support.

Mr Muluzi and his cabinet however were criticised for overspending, poor economic control and undemocratic tendencies by international supporters. In 2002, the IMF and international donors suspended more that US$ 75 in financial support, saying the Muluzi regime was unable to manage these funds. Despite substantial aid, Malawi did not improve its financial situation during the Muluzi era.

President Mutharika has vowed to turn this tide and is given a good possibility to increase Malawi's international credibility. One of his first challenges will be to invite the IMF to give renewed support to Malawi.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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