Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera named Sosten Gwengwe as the country’s finance minister as he finalized the appointment of a new cabinet after dismissing the entire executive earlier this week over graft allegations.
Gwengwe is the former trade minister and will head up a new combined ministry that also includes economic affairs. That portfolio was previously included in the vice president’s tasks.
Other changes include Eisenhower Mkaka, the ruling Malawi Congress Party’s secretary-general and former foreign affairs minister, who will now be minister of natural resources and climate change. Nancy Tembo was named the new minister of foreign affairs and Albert Mbawala is the minister of mining.
The announcement of nine more ministers and eight deputy ministers was made in a statement from the presidency sent by WhatsApp and takes the total size of the new cabinet to 29. The only members of the old executive that who did not get reappointed are former Finance Minister Felix Mlusu, former Sports Minister Ulemu Msungama and former Minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa.
Original story on Bloomberg