…Kaliati not quitting politics
…Zikhale Ng’oma says only criminals have to fear him
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chikwawa North MP Owen Chomanika has accepted his post in MCP led Government, he has confirmed this evening.
Chomanika says he has informed the party president Arthur Peter Mutharika that he will be taking up the role of deputy Minister for Local Government, Unity and Culture as the only opposition legislator.
DPP officials are furious, but Chomanika says it is up to them to respond to his position.
“When this came up of such a possibility, I informed the party President. This morning I also communicated to him that I will be taking up the post,” said Chomanika.
The legislator who is among rising stars of politicians is likely to face tough time from his party as section 65 bars legislators from crossing the floor. Chomanika has not ruled out that he might join the MCP.
Newly appointed Homeland Security Minister Ken Zikhale Ng’oma has since assured Malawians that he will work to the best of his ability to improve security and image of security agencies in the country.
Speaking to The Investigator on Wednesday, Zikhale Ng’oma said criminals have a good reason to be worried of him.
“My first job is to deliver the mandate His Excellency has given me, ensure Malawians are secure. Nobody who is not a criminal should fear Zikhale. Only criminals would have a reason to fear me,” he said on reports that he would be going after his perceived political rivals outside the MCP. Zikhale was once the righthand man of the third Republican President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Meanwhile former Gender Minister Patricia Kaliati has parried away social media reports that she is quitting politics after she was dismissed from cabinet in the early hours of Wednesday.
She told Times Radio Host Brian Banda that, “I am a politician, and I am not going anywhere. I was a privilege to be appointed and it has an expiry date, but I will continue to be a politician.”
President Chakwera in his biggest reshuffle yet fired Kaliati, Natural Resources Minister Eisenhower Mkaka, Local Government Minister Blessings Chisinga, Information Minister Gospel Kazako, National Unity Minister Timothy Mtambo among others.