Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika has appointed key members to a partial cabinet just 24 hours after his inauguration.

Among the notable appointments is economist and former banker Joseph Mwanamvekha, who returns as Minister of Finance—a role he previously held from 2016 to 2020. Mwanamvekha is tasked with confronting Malawi’s acute dollar scarcity and surging inflation, which reached 30 percent this year. George Chaponda resumes his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs, reinforcing Mutharika’s diplomatic posture amid growing regional calls for debt relief.

In a strategic move to consolidate his Alliance for Democracy coalition, Mutharika named Enock Chihana as Second Vice President. Security leadership was also swiftly addressed, with Lt. Gen. George Jafu appointed to head the Malawi Defense Force and Richard Luhanga to lead the national police—critical roles in a country vulnerable to climate-induced disasters and civil unrest.

At 85, Mutharika’s return to power—following his 2020 electoral defeat to Lazarus Chakwera—evokes both nostalgia and scrutiny. His previous administration was credited with infrastructure development and inflation control, yet faced persistent allegations of cronyism.

The current appointments, announced via state media, reflect his post-election pledge to “fix this country,” but the challenges ahead are formidable: foreign exchange reserves are critically low, covering only a few weeks of imports, and fuel shortages continue to disrupt daily life in urban centers like Blantyre.

Talks with the International Monetary Fund for $150 million in aid are underway, while efforts to shield smallholder farmers from rising maize prices remain a priority.