According to the State House Press Secretary Mgeme Kalirani the appointment is effective from 19th May 2016.

The statement says the appointment has been necessitated by the recent appointment of Kasaila as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation which demands a lot of international travelling.

The recent Cabinet reshuffle saw Chaponda being moved to Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation replacing Dr Allan Chiyembekeza.

“Mutharika found it necessary to effectively allow Kasaila to attend to Malawi’s international affairs hence the need for someone else to take up the mantle of Leader of the House an equally demanding position,”

“We realised that both positions are important hence the need to give them due attention.”

Parliament meets on Friday 20th May for a 2016-2017 budget meeting and earlier before the appointment Kasaila said over 15 bills are to be carried from the previous meetings.

The President further thanked Mr Kasaila for serving on the post with diligence and at the same time wished Dr Chaponda all the best on his new role,” further reads the statement.