Malawi President Bakili Muluzi on Wednesday dissolved his entire 39-member cabinet but gave no reasons for the surprise move, a statement from his office said.
A brief statement from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) in Malawi’s administrative capital, Lilongwe, said all ministerial matters were to be referred to the OPC itself for ”appropriate action”.
The dissolution of the cabinet followed an announcement from Muluzi on Sunday that Economic Planning Minister Bingu wa Mutharika had been unanimously endorsed by his ruling party’s executive committee and the cabinet as his successor to stand in 2004 elections.
Sunday’s statement was as good as an official declaration that Muluzi would step down as head of state, despite his controversial attempt to amend the constitution to allow him a third term in office.
Muluzi’s second five-year term expires next year. But political commentators said there has been protest
voiced by some key members of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) party over Mutharika’s appointment.
Multi-party elections at all levels of government are due to be held in May next year.
Mutharika is expected to be endorsed by a ruling party convention scheduled for next month.
The presidential aspirant is a former secretary general of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), a regional trading bloc. Like Muluzi, he comes from southern Malawi. – Sapa-AFP