By Draxon Maloya
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Questions are mounting over the government’s failure to provide a clear and coordinated programme for the swearing-in ceremony of Second Vice President-designate, Enock Chakufwa Chihana.
On 8 October, the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) issued a press statement notifying the public of a swearing-in ceremony scheduled for the following day.
However, no specific details regarding the time or venue were communicated, leaving many Malawians puzzled.
Writing on his Facebook page, political analyst Edgar Kelvin Ng’ambi expressed concern over the silence surrounding Chihana’s appointment, especially in contrast to other appointees who have already assumed their roles.
“I may be wrong, koma akuluakulu tiyeni tipaone bwino pamenepa. Something doesn’t add up,” Ng’ambi wrote on Facebook. “There’s a faint but unmistakable sense that Chihana may not, after all, be appointed to the Second Vice President position. Something is cooking — quietly but surely.”
Adding a voice to Ng’ambis’ sentiments several political commentators, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the delay as “strange and suspicious,” suggesting it could undermine public confidence in the administration’s transparency.
A lecturer at the Catholic University, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, urged the appointing authority to act decisively.
“Such matters may look simple, but politicising or playing hide and seek on governance issues can only create mistrust in how the office of the Second Vice President is perceived,” he said.
Mzuzu based socio-economic and political commentator Tiyane Nyirenda also questioned the rationale behind appointing a Minister of State alongside a Second Vice President.
“I believe the written appointment is the first step towards swearing-in. Maybe they are trying to prepare the office and de-conflict it with the Minister of State,” Nyirenda observed. “Speculation continues to swirl — and I would pay a hundred million dollars just to know what Enock Chihana is thinking right now.”
The OPC’s statement was categorical: Chihana was among those to be sworn in. Yet, the absence of a formal ceremony has left the public and political observers alike searching for answers.
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