A political analyst says the biggest change that has occurred in the fresh cabinet is the integration of Ministry of Finance with the Economic Planning and Development which is now wearing a new name of Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

The analyst, Victor Chipofya, was commenting on the 18 cabinet ministers that President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed a day after announcing a partial cabinet comprising of 12 ministers.

Chipofya stated that this determines the direction which the president wants the country to take considering the economic problems which the country is facing.

‘This is the only major change that has occurred, and now there is a combination between the spending and the planning and there is no longer going to be a conflict of interest because all activities will be implemented under one ministry,” he said.

Asked on the size of the cabinet, Chipofya indicated that it is not not lean but the size is okay.

‘The President is also a politician so as much people would want him to be an administrator, therefore as he is making appointments he considers many factors so it’s difficult for him to heed to calls from the opposition to downsize his cabinet’.

The new cabinet has 30 members, of which 40% are women and 60% are men.