Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and other civil society organisation leaders have always accused Mutharika of sidelining the Northern region in government appointments and resource allocation.

But speaking at Katoto in Mzuzu City on his arrival to the region where he will perform several official duties, Mutharika argued that Northerners have a 37 percent representation in the civil service even though the region is just nine percent of Malawi’s population.

“Let me tell you that in my cabinet, I have four ministers from the North.

“Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Grace Obama Chiumia and Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Clement Mukumbwa,” the President said.

He also said the Attorney General Charles Mhango who is “one of the best lawyers in this country” is also from the region and that he chose him on merit.

“Let me tell you; I come from Thyolo and in my cabinet there is no single minister from Thyolo,” he said.
He added that at Malawi Defence Force most senior positions are held by Northerners including the post of Deputy Army Commander and legal adviser.
At Malawi Police Service, the president said, he has promoted Commissioner John Nyondo and others from the North.

He added that Chief Justice Nyirenda is from Nkhata Bay and that Director of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is also from the same district.

Mutharika added that in civil service, out of 225 positions from grade E to A that a president appoints, 83 are from the North.

He said while the population of the North is nine per cent of the country’s population, it has 33 per cent of the positions in the civil service.

“I’m saying this to show the people who spare time talking about nepotism and tribalism that they are wrong,” he said.

The President told the gathering that his government has a lot of development activities taking shape in the region.

He said soon government will open Mombela University as ground work has already started.

Mutharika then said finally money for new Mzuzu Airport has been found and his government will build an international standard airport in the city.

He also said his government is fulfilling its promises to rehabilitate Mzuzu-Nkhata Bay Road and city roads.

President Mutharika is in the Northern region to undertake various development activities including Commissioning of Kalenge Water Project in Chitipa District.

On his way from Lilongwe, President Mutharika stopped over at Champhira in Mzimba South where he addressed people who gathered there.