Photo: President Peter Mutharika of Malawi
President Peter Mutharika of Malawi dissolved his cabinet on Friday 13th March 2020 ahead of a possible presidential election in May
The Constitutional Court last month annulled Mutharika’s victory in the May 21st 2019 presidential election, ordering a re-run within 150 days after opposition parties said there were irregularities in the vote but Mutharika has appealed against the Constitutional Court decision.
In a statement announcing Mutharika’s decision to dissolve cabinet, the chief secretary to government Lloyd Muhara said the president would assume all cabinet duties until new ministers were appointed
The statement did not give a reason for the decision
There is speculation that Mutharika’s party Democratic Progressive Party which recently entered into an alliance with the United Democratic Front UDF led by Atupele Muluzi, is on a move to accommodate his new allies in the expected cabinet re-shuffle
President Peter Mutharika dissolved his Cabinet a day after Supreme Court of Appeal ruled the processes for fresh presidential elections as ordered by Constitution Court be continued pending substantive appeal
The office of the President and Cabinet OPC says all members of the dissolved cabinet are requested to consult the chief secretary to the government for appropriate administrative arrangements
It is however said there should be no hurry in coming up with a new cabinet because fresh elections are set to be held in a few months time
With the elections nullified, the president and vice president are expected to lead in the political arm of the executive
Malawi’s two largest opposition parties have agreed on an electoral alliance ahead of a fresh presidential vote expected in May after last year’s election results were annulled over vote-rigging
Photo: Opposition supporters celebrate the nullification of elections in February 2020
The United Transformation Movement (UTM) under aspirant Saulo’s Chilima who cacame third in last year’s nixed presidential poll, said he will partner with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Lazarus Chakwera, whose narrowly lost to President Peter Mutharika in the disputed elections
Photo: Chakwera and Chilima have vowed to work together in the fresh elections in Malawi