Alfred Gangata to Sports Ministry: A strategic deployment to political frontline

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By Kenneth Bwanali

LILONGWE—(MaraviPost)-The recent cabinet reshuffle by President Peter Mutharika has sparked intense debate at Capital Hill, particularly regarding the movement of Alfred Gangata. Moving from the Ministry of Natural Resources to Youth, Sports, and Culture, Gangata’s transition has been described by some as a change in pace.

However, a closer analysis reveals this is a strategic deployment of one of the administration’s most agile “fixers.”

The “People’s Ministry”

In the architecture of Malawian politics, portfolios are often divided into “technical” and “political.” While Natural Resources is a technical heavyweight, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is a political powerhouse.

With over 70% of the population being youth, the Minister holding this seat is effectively the face of the government to the largest voting bloc in the country.

By moving Honorable Gangata—who has already proven his competence as a Minister of State and in Natural Resources—to Sports, the President is placing a trusted, high-energy communicator where the administration needs to win hearts and minds.

Versatility as a Strength

Since his appointment as Minister of State in October 2025, Gangata has shown a rare ability to adapt. Very few leaders in the current cabinet have served in three distinct capacities within such a short window. This versatility is not a sign of instability; it is evidence of a leader who can be dropped into any environment and deliver.

“Some look at the size of the budget, but smart politicians look at the size of the audience,” notes an analyst close to the Presidency.

“In Sports, Gangata isn’t just managing a department; he is managing the national mood. Every time a national team wins or a youth center opens, it is his face the public sees.”

The Road Ahead

For Gangata, the Ministry of Youth and Sports offers a unique platform to build massive political capital. While boardroom-heavy ministries can often isolate a leader from the grassroots, Sports puts him directly in the community.

As we look toward the future, the experience Gangata is gathering across these diverse portfolios—from the administrative intricacies of the State House to the environmental challenges of Natural Resources and now the social dynamics of Youth—is building a CV of a truly well-rounded national leader.

In Lilongwe’s corridors of power, the most valuable players are those who can play any position on the field.

Alfred Gangata has just been moved to the center of the pitch. The future, for those paying attention, looks brighter than ever.

About the author: Kenneth Bwanali is a political commentator and analyst based in Lilongwe.

The Maravi Post

Simon Itaye, talk of the town replacing Partridge as Trade Minister: Who is he?

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President Peter Mutharika has appointed Simon Itaye as new Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism in Malawi on 30 January 2026.

He is part of a cabinet reshuffle by President Arthur Peter Mutharika, replacing George Partridge, who was moved to serve as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

Itaye is a veteran of the Malawian private sector with over 35 years of experience in strategic management, international trade, and financial services.

Itaye boasts of holding a Bachelor of Commerce in Accountancy from the University of Malawi, an MBA in Strategic Management from the University of West London (formerly Thames Valley University), and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA).

As if that is not enough, Itaye once served as the Managing Director of Nampak Malawi Limited, the nation’s leading paper-based packaging manufacturer, until his retirement in 2018.

He is also the former Chairman of Malawi’s largest holding company from 2015 to 2016.

Itaye’s board leadership experience as the chairman of several high-profile boards, including Old Mutual Life Assurance Co. (Malawi), Marsh (Fiji), and the Millennium Challenge Account Malawi is another asset to Mutharika’s cabinet.

Furthermore, Itaye also boasts as one of 12 local entrepreneurs who co-founded Investment Alliance Ltd in 1998.

In terms of his political affiliation, Itaye is closely associated with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under President Peter Mutharika.

His appointment is viewed as part of Mutharika’s strategy to bring seasoned technocrats and loyalists into the administration to stabilise the economy following his return to power in October 2025.

Interestingly, Itaye is credited with leading Nampak Malawi to become a dominant force in the country’s manufacturing sector.

In fact, Itaye has been a vocal proponent of investment culture among Malawian youth, frequently conducting seminars on building wealth through investment groups.

For instance, Itaye’s role as Chairman of the Millennium Challenge Account Malawi involved overseeing significant energy infrastructure projects aimed at improving the country’s power grid.

Truth be told, while Simon Itaye himself has a generally clean professional record, his surname was briefly linked to controversy through a 2021 Ombudsman report involving his relative, Godfrey Itaye (former Director General of MACRA).

The report alleged nepotism and cronyism within the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority, though no personal wrongdoing was attributed to Simon Itaye.

It is also important to note that President Mutharika once described Itaye as a “private sector veteran,” signaling that his appointment is intended to bridge the gap between government policy and the business community.

Therefore,Itaye’s background in FCCA and MBA provides the financial literacy necessary to manage the trade and industrialisation portfolios.

It is therefore speculated that having run one of the country’s largest manufacturing firms, Itaye is considered uniquely positioned to address the forex shortages and export bans currently hampering Malawian trade.

In conclusion, Itaye faces a daunting challenge of convincing the youth in Malawi that experienced veterans can improve the struggling economy for the benefit of everyone.

The Maravi Post

Was it viable for Malawi Speaker Suleiman to blow dollars on RSA training amid austerity measures plea?

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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) has demanded a justification from Malawi Parliament on decision to hold a leadership training programme outside Malawi, arguing the move contradicts the government’s austerity measures.

Kambwandira has said this following an ongoing Leadership Development Programme for the Parliamentary Service Commission in Sandton, South Africa, officially opened by Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman on Tuesday.

Kambwandira told Zodiak online that the decision financially irresponsible, saying the training could have been held in Malawi at far lower cost.

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However, Parliament spokesperson Ian Mwenye, has described the matter as speculative.

Parliament of Malawi facebook page quotes the Speaker highlighting the training, running from January 22 to 31, will build leadership skills and strengthen competencies and governance principles within Parliament.

Capital One

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Uganda’s military chief Kainerugaba denies assault on opposition leader’s wife

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KAMPALA-(MaraviPost)-Uganda’s army chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has rejected allegations that troops attacked Barbara Kyagulanyi, the wife of opposition leader Bobi Wine, during a raid on their home.

Wine said soldiers threatened his wife at gunpoint and seized documents and electronic devices, sparking widespread concern and outrage.

Barbara Kyagulanyi later alleged from hospital that officers assaulted her while demanding to know Wine’s whereabouts, adding that she was left with physical and psychological trauma.

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Kainerugaba dismissed the allegations, stating that his soldiers “do not beat up women” and are only looking for her “cowardly husband”.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and opposition politicians, who accuse the government of using the military to suppress dissent.

The Uganda Law Society has denounced the “ongoing wave of detentions, torture and enforced disappearance” of opposition leaders and supporters, calling for an end to violence and intimidation.

Bobi Wine, who is in hiding, has accused the government of trying to silence him and has thanked supporters for keeping him safe.

Capital One

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“Political interference worsening fuel prices hikes”-Kapito

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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) has attributed the recent sharp fuel price hike to prolonged government and parliamentary interference in the operations of the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), arguing that the economic shock could have been avoided if the regulator had been allowed to operate independently.

Speaking to MaraviPost, CAMA Executive Director John Kapito said fuel prices would have increased gradually and with far less pain if MERA had been permitted to execute its mandate without political pressure.

Instead, he said sustained interference delayed necessary adjustments, culminating in a sudden and severe hike that has heavily burdened consumers.

Kapito argued that MERA’s hands were effectively tied by government actions, making it impossible for the regulator to conduct incremental price reviews that would have cushioned the public from a major shock.

He stressed that the blame should not fall on MERA staff, whom he described as professionals constrained by political decisions beyond their control.

“This situation is man made and it was avoidable,” Kapito said,
calling on government to “get its hands off MERA” and allow the institution to operate strictly within its legal framework. Where weaknesses exist in the law, he added,

Parliament should amend the Act rather than interfere with day to day regulatory decisions.

He warned that continued political interference would only prolong the suffering of ordinary Malawians, noting that undermining independent institutions erodes public confidence and weakens service delivery.

While acknowledging that higher fuel prices inevitably hurt consumers, Kapito emphasized that pricing should not be confused with availability.

He argued that selling fuel below cost creates scarcity, which ultimately drives prices even higher through black market trading.

He cited recent market experiences in which fuel shortages led to extreme price distortions, with consumers paying several times the official price simply because fuel was unavailable.

Kapito maintained that ensuring consistent fuel availability would restore mobility, support business activity and help the economy stabilize over time, even if the adjustment period remains painful.

Turning to unscrupulous traders, he issued a stern warning against exploiting the situation by unjustifiably hiking prices of goods and services beyond what is warranted by fuel adjustments.

He said consumer protection bodies, working closely with the media, would closely monitor markets in the coming weeks.

He also called on the media to play a constructive role by exposing abuses while giving consumers hope and confidence that their interests are being safeguarded.

However, he concluded that while traders must be held accountable, the primary responsibility lies with government.

The Maravi Post

Attorney General Mbeta to challenge High Court order on MCP’s Chimwendo Banda attempted murder case

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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Attorney General (AG) Frank Mbeta is contesting a High Court decision allowing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General Richard Chimwendo Banda to pursue a judicial review of his detention.

Mbeta argues that Chimwendo Banda had alternative remedies, such as invoking habeas corpus, which he failed to exhaust.

The High Court had ordered Chimwendo Banda’s immediate release from prison, citing unlawful detention beyond the legally prescribed remand period.

However, Mbeta’s preliminary application seeks to discharge the leave granted for the judicial review proceedings and set aside the interim reliefs obtained by Chimwendo Banda.

Chimwendo Banda’s lawyer, Khwima Mchizi, says he hasn’t seen the application filed by the respondents, the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions. An inter partes hearing is scheduled for January 23, 2026.

Chimwendo Banda was arrested in December 2025 on attempted murder charges dating back to 2021.

His release was ordered after his lawyer argued that the State had exceeded the 30-day detention period allowed under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code.

The case has sparked controversy, with the MCP accusing the government of political persecution,a claim dismissed by many.

The outcome of the judicial review proceedings will determine whether Chimwendo Banda’s detention is lawful.

The Maravi Post