2023 Tonse Govt cabinet review: Chakwera, Sendeza, Mvalo, Kawale, Nyalonje failed to deliver

By Investigator Magazine

On the last day of 2023, we can declare another failed year for Malawians as Government services came to a grinding halt and only a few of the elected representatives worked for Malawians. Services in most public institutions stopped and the President and his Ministers were largely absent from explaining to the public what was going on and how the problems were going to be fixed.

Out of 25 Ministers, only six engaged the public and showed leadership when required, while the rest did not show initiative most of the time, Ministers spent time traveling outside or for engagements to just deliver speeches.

The Investigator Magazine analysts who looked at Ministerial diaries and engagement, found that there were very few government-led initiatives in 2023 and Ministers spent time attending events by NGOs and other civic groups rather than delivering programmes.

The Public Service Reforms, initially championed by Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima was all but on paper with most targets set for 2023 being thrown away as Capital Hill was almost bankrupt and spent time on the road, delivering nothing.

The assessment

The assessment looked at Leadership, Engagement and Delivery in terms of Ministers and impact on delivered programmes or none of it. We add to the Initiative and Crisis Management (including talking to the media and the public) on issues emerging or of public concern. Each of the five points carries 2 points and a star. We found that only six Ministers managed 6 points out of 10 and three stars, others got five points whilst the majority fell in the firing category.

Here is the assessment:

President Lazarus Chakwera:

1. President Chakwera
Leadership: 0 – failed to inspire Malawians, and continued to fly in and out of Malawi despite the poor economy. Failed to provide comprehensive responses to challenges being faced by Malawians. Politically he could not even hold meetings for his Tonse Alliance, avoiding face-off with those that supported him to the seat. Within his party, he could not even take to task those failed to pay for bills of his party predecessors opting to bury his head and wish the problems to go away.

Engagement: 0– only met Public Affairs Committee after prolonged requests and did not provide answers. He allowed Police Services to arrest perceived critics and demonstrators showing his intolerance of freedom of expression. Throughout the year he only attended choreographed press conferences or events where he was not asked critical questions.

Delivery : 0- None of his promises at the start of the year were delivered and he opted for a blame game without offering alternative solutions as Malawians became poorer and the food shortages continued. None of his foreign trips delivered direct benefit to the country, apart from appearances at a huge cost of K12 billion spent on his travels.

Initiative : 0– The President lacked initiative to pursue any of the failed government projects or performances, he did not act when his Ministers were caught in illegal deals like East Bridge with fake companies and overall he remained aloof to a myriad of scandals and open fights involving his Secretary to the President and Cabinet some of which were loudly condemned by the Church and Civic groups. As in other years, President Chakwera cannot act in cases many believe he is involved.

Crisis Management: 1 and 1 star– directly related to Cyclone Freddy, though late to react, he managed to put together Former Presidents Bakili Muluzi and Joyce Banda.

Total for the President: 1 out of 10, and 1 star out of 5

Verdict: He could do Malawians a favour if he considered resigning or changing his leadership style to reflect the public expectations.

Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima

Vice President Chilima
· Not assessed, he was out of delegated duties and stripped of most of the active portfolios.

· However, it was noted he lacked the initiative to speak up for suffering Malawians and the excesses of his administration.

The Performing Ministers

Mrs Vera Kantukule- Minister of Tourism
Leadership: 2 – Provided needed leadership raising the status of the Malawi Tourism Month and activities.

Engagement: 2– One of the most engaged Ministers in the year.

Delivery: 1- Tourism marketing remained more traditional in attendance to fairs than modern means of accessing travelers- digitally.

Initiative: 2– Effectively used digital engagement and personal reach to many players in the sector, departing from a culture of Ministers who expect stakeholders to follow them.

Crisis Management: 0– Visa issues for Tourists and access to some tourism centres especially along the lake for Malawians remain an issue. Places like Vwaza Reserve and Mwabvi remain underutilised.

Total for the Minister of Tourism 7 out of 10, and 4 stars out of 5

Verdict: She has performed well and could do more to attract many tourists to Malawi.

Mrs Khumbize Kandodo- Minister of Health
Leadership: 1 – Available to lead from the front despite challenges like people complaining of poor hospital services and being charged by doctors to be operated on.

Engagement: 2– The Minister remained engaged with the public and stakeholders beyond normal events inspiring partner confidence in the process.

Delivery: 1- The hospitals remained open despite drug and staff shortages. They saved lives when required.

Initiative: 1- She appeared to be leading at times to engage in challenges affecting hospitals though later she was very silent on some of the key issues affecting public health delivery.

Crisis Management: 1– Publicly admitted shortage of drugs levels at 30% providing accurate data and what Malawians should expect.

Total for the Minister of Health: 6 out of 10, and 3 stars out of 5

Verdict: She has done well in a difficult economy, but needs to take more leadership in ethical issues surrounding public hospitals.

Mrs Nancy Tembo-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Leadership: 1 – Led well as Malawi’s top diplomat, but failed to solve the overcrowding in embassies and returning diplomats cases which remained unsolved over the years.

Engagement: 2– Continued to provide information to the public and stakeholders.

Delivery: 1- Managed to represent Malawi at key events but failed to deliver core goals of Malawi diplomacy, always attending events and having no impact on Malawi as a nation.

Initiative: 1– The Minister was key in developing partnerships with others a core attribute for a diplomat that would be beneficial in the long term

Crisis Management: 1- Though managed to lead Embassies from embarrassing episodes of delayed payments, she failed to advise the President to stop opening embassies as Malawi’s economy cannot support any more of them. Also failed to be consistent on Malawi’s position in Ukraine and Israel, leading to the country being looked at suspiciously by both sides of conflicts as opportunists.

Total for the Minister of Foreign Affairs: 6 out of 10, and 3 stars out of 5

Verdict: She can deliver if allowed to work independently and not overridden by other political interests like in the case of Israel.

Mr Sosten Gwengwe- As Minister of Finance

Mr Sosten Gwengwe
Leadership: 1– Was an optimist and always on top of things despite having a weak support system. He failed to control the political side of the treasury, issuing sovereign guarantees like Christmas gifts to dubious characters.

Engagement: 2– Open and always available to the public and stakeholders. He presented as an honest politician despite being asked to defend financially explosive projects.

Delivery: 1- He laid strong ground for the delivery of IMF ECF but failed to improve the economy.

Initiative: 1- He became unpopular as he canceled politically driven sovereign guarantees and stopped all payments. However, he lacked the initiative to stop them before they happened.

Crisis Management: 1 – He led the Treasury in one of the most turbulent seasons of Malawi’s economy but avoided total collapse. His challenge was playing smart not advising other politicians including the President to stop senseless travel and projects such as the Salima Lilongwe Water project.

Total for former Finance Minister: 6 out of 10, and 3 stars out of 5

Verdict: He performed well and he can do better by being on the side of the public

Mr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma – Minister of Homeland Security
Leadership: 1 – Though sometimes comes across as undiplomatic, he is one Minister that has been available in all sectors under his Ministry, trying hard to find solutions and paying attention to the public.

Engagement: 2– Continued engagement with media and public, explaining what is happening under his office

Delivery: 1- He delivered on National IDs suspending them and also on security concerns that had engulfed the country.

Initiative: 1– The Minister showed initiative to address security concerns but failed to tackle passports and a backlog of permits currently sitting idle in his intray for months.

Crisis Management: 1– Managed to reassure the public of security concerns but failed to manage refugee relocation and passport issues affecting Malawians.

Total for Homeland Security: 6 out of 10, and 3 stars out of 5

Verdict: He could do Malawians a favour if he allowed technical experts to take the lead and learn basic diplomacy in his approach to things. He also needs to clear permit applications as they are affecting businesses.

Mr. Ibrahim Matola- Minister of Energy
Leadership: 1 – From a crying minister to providing electricity and solving some of the crucial issues in the sector. However, he was absent at times when his Ministry was fighting EGENCO and ESCOM to pursue selfish reasons. He needed to take charge of the events.

Engagement: 2– Engaged well at all times explaining to the public measures addressing various issues including fuel shortages.

Delivery: 1- Delivered on electricity but failed on alternative energy.

Initiative : 0– The Minister did not show any initiative to address individual challenges under his Ministry like MAREP (No Delivery of materials), EGENCO, and ESCOM which were facing an onslaught from the SPC.

Crisis Management: 1– He worked on safe areas and managed but left others.

Total for the Energy: 6 out of 10, and 3 stars out of 5

Verdict: He needs to learn to be a leader and lead from the front.

Mr Moses Kunkuyu- Minister of Information and Communications Technology
Leadership: 1 – He led the Ministry providing answers, though his biggest challenge was defending strange contracts such as Bridgin and East Bridge which were not in the best interests of Malawians.

Engagement: 2– The Minister engaged well with the public and did not sound rude or patronizing as others before him.

Delivery: 1- He delivered information, but failed to tackle MBC and MACRA under him which undermined the role of the Ministry in the sector.

Initiative: 1– The Minister took the initiative several times to reach out to the public and delivered some expected results for Malawians.

Crisis Management: 1 – During crises, fuel and cyclones, the Minister has done well to update Malawians. He also stood on the side of the public during the MACRA-Multichoice stand-off.

Total for the Information Minister: 6 out of 10, and 3 stars out of 5

Verdict: He can perform better with an independent view of public issues that usually defend the government.

Ministers who can improve but need more initiative

Abida Mia- Minister of Water
She delivered most of the water projects but did not engage nationally or show initiative and leadership in terms of water issues. The most sensitive included the absence of the Minister’s voice as people are being tasked to pay for boreholes. 5 out of 10, 2 stars out of 5

Deus Gumba- Minister of Lands
Managed to reverse a proposal to restrict land purchases but has failed to inspire internal management where the Ministry officials are being accused of nepotism, promotion of relations and land allocations to underserving Malawians.

Score:4 out of 10, 2 stars out of 5

Simplex Chithyola Banda- Minister of Finance
He managed to get ECF done but ran away from engaging with the public. He needs to demonstrate that the much-touted donor funding is making a difference. His appointment to the Ministry is still one of the wonders of President Chakweras’s administration. He fits well in advocacy-related Ministry.

Score: 4 out of 10, 2 stars out of 5

Micheal Usi- Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change
Though he engages well, the Ministry seems to be out in public only when there are events such as COP conferences or some commemoration day. Initiatives such as cleaning days and others started by the Ministry have disappeared over time. The Ministry has also been silent in terms of climate change’s impact on places where they need more political voices than leaving it to the Department of Disaster Management alone.

Score: 4 out of 10, 2 stars out of 5

Richard Chimwendo Banda- Minister of Local Government
The best engaging Minister has reduced the Ministry to Chiefs’ funerals and crowning and also failed to get local councils to deliver. He needs to do more on Arts and develop a proper achievable framework on standards councils should deliver to locals as they serve ordinary Malawians.

Score: 4 out of 10, 2 stars out of 5

Uchizi Mkandawire- Minister of Youth
He has been available in all needed spaces, but he needs to work more than sports as youth issues are being left behind. Young people present the biggest potential for Malawi’s development and the Minister needs to prioritise initiatives that empower young people rather than football alone.

Score: 4 out of 10, 2 stars out of 5

Ministers that need to be fired

1. Titus Mvalo- Minister of Justice
   Achieved nothing, he failed to deliver and his office prosecuted government critics making Malawi look like a less democracy. He needs to be the political head defending Malawian freedoms. He has failed to inspire confidence in the justice system.

2. Jacob Hara- Minister of Transport
Achieved nothing, most of the roads remain undone including the M1 and Nyika Road. He has concentrated on Lilongwe alone. Lied to Malawians about the Chinese K5 trillion project which is non-existent. Ministers who lie to the taxpayers should be fired.

3.Sam Kawale- Minister of Agriculture
Backed and lied about East Bridge while he was aware of their true status. His work in the Ministry has been chaotic and failed to deliver subsidies resulting not only in a reduction of beneficiaries, but even the few failing to access the essential commodity. He cannot deliver as all his promised activities have failed in 2023.

4.Jean Sendeza – Minister of Gender
The Minister engaged only in official events and failed to be the voice of young women facing violence or harassment. She appears only when there is a donor-funded engagement. The Ministry needs an advocate type of political

5.Agness Nyalonje- Minister of Labour
The Minister was caught off guard over Israel contracts when Malawians already got a raw deal in Gulf countries. Shows up to official events and has no initiative or leadership to address Malawi labour issues. Failing to engage with Unions on potential strikes planned about the cost of living.

6.Monica Chiyang’anamuno- Minister of Mining

The Minister has been silent on major mining contracts and only appears at events and thereafter disappears. The Ministry is a waste of resources.

7.Madalitso Kambauwa- Minister of Education:

She has failed to lead and provide answers to young people facing huge fees increases. Poverty in schools and dropout rates are set to increase and the Minister has been absent from engaging with parents and schools to cushion the impact of fees increases.

8.Harry Mkandawire, Minister of Defence

Harry Mkandawire, Minister of Defence: The Ministry that looks after one department does not add value to the economy. Relocating Mkandawire to another Ministry to abolish the Defence Ministry is just a duplication of bureaucracy.

Deputy Ministers

Fire the rest save for Halima Daudi for Health, and relocate her to a Ministry where she can make more impact.

Government Offices and Officials

SPC Zamba needs to be relocated

Secretary to the President and Cabinet;
Needs urgent relocation as she is suffocating many agencies through interference as observed by the Public Affairs Committee (PAC).

Judges of Appeal and the High Court: Life audit and audit for cases handled especially those suspected of delivering justice for cash. Malawians are losing trust in the judiciary.

Electoral Commission: Intensive civic education and awareness of the new electronic systems are required to avoid last-minute challenges and accusations of vote rigging.

Malawi Police Service: Take action on errant officers, starting with those who robbed refugees.

Source: The Investigator Magazine

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or The Editor