Former Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu has criticised President Peter Mutharika’s administration for creating the position of Second Vice President, calling it a wasteful move that contradicts the government’s supposed austerity measures.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zodiak Television on Tuesday, Kunkuyu said while merging ministries to reduce public spending was commendable, creating another vice presidency would only balloon government costs.
“It means nothing to merge ministries and then create a new high-level office that comes with its own convoy, three official residences — one in the south, one in the centre, and one in the north — plus all the benefits and staff,” Kunkuyu said. “That is not austerity. That is extravagance disguised as reform.”
He likened the move to “taking one step forward and four steps backward,” arguing that the decision sends mixed signals about the government’s priorities at a time when Malawians are struggling with rising costs of living and limited job opportunities.
His comments come just hours after Enock Chihana, leader of the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), was sworn in as Second Vice President of the Republic of Malawi in a ceremony held at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre. The oath of office was administered by Deputy Chief Justice Lovemore Chikopa.
Chihana becomes the second person in Malawi’s history to hold the position, following in the footsteps of his late father, Chakufwa Chihana, who once served in the same capacity during the early years of multiparty democracy.
The appointment follows a pre-election alliance between AFORD and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is provided for under Section 80(5) of the Constitution of Malawi.
While the government insists the appointment strengthens national unity and fulfills a political agreement, critics like Kunkuyu say it only adds another layer of unnecessary expenditure. “If this is what austerity looks like,” he quipped, “then Malawians should brace themselves for more of the same.”
