President Peter Mutharika has fired Patricia Kaliati as minister responsible for civic education, culture and community development.
She has since been replaced by Democratic Progressive Party Deputy Secretary General, Cecilia Chazama.
Meanwhile, Kaliati Thursday could not comment much on the development.
“I am not the one to say much on that. People will speak for and judge me. I was the one in the ring so I cannot say more about my own performance. Let the people judge,” she said
State House Press Secretary, Mgeme Kalilani, while confirming the appointment of Chazama said there was no hidden reason behind Kaliati’s firing.
“I think it is not appropriate that we start speculating that every time the President makes changes in his cabinet, then there is something wrong. We have to appreciate that hiring and firing of cabinet ministers are within the prerogative of the President. He does that at his own discretion and the law does not say that when the President has done that he has to give reasons. He is not under obligation to do so. He can only do that at his pleasure,” Kalilani said.
Since DPP’s victory in the 2014 tripartite polls, Kaliati has served in Mutharika’s cabinet in various portfolios.
She served as minister responsible for gender, before serving as information minister. She then moved to civic education, culture and community development.
In the recent cabinet assessment by The Sunday Times published on March 12 2017, Kaliati’s performance was rated 2 out of 10.
Mutharika has fired Kaliati after also sacking George Chaponda on February 22 as agriculture minister amid a maize import scandal.
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