Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has dismissed Defence Minister Harry Mkandawire in a Cabinet reshuffle following criticism of how Vice-President Saulosi Chilima’s fatal plane crash was handled.
Deputy Education Minister Nancy Mdooko was also fired, while other ministers were reassigned in what Chakwera described as a move to improve service delivery ahead of the 2025 elections.
Chilima and eight others died in a military plane crash on June 10 last year in dense fog, sparking accusations of negligence against the military for their search and rescue efforts. 
Critics and commentators had called for Mkandawire’s removal, with political analyst George Phiri commending the decision as overdue but necessary to enforce accountability.
However, the president faced backlash for retaining a 31-member Cabinet despite the country’s struggling economy. Economist Milward Tobias criticized the decision as insensitive, urging the government to reduce the Cabinet size and prioritize austerity.
As Malawi prepares for elections in September, political tensions continue to rise, with growing calls for action on economic and governance issues.
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