Mutharika’s Ansah dilemma deepens

During the 2025 election campaign, President Peter Mutharika’s camp branded him the “Ansah” (answer) Malawi needed, but the answer now appears to be facing questions of its own after it emerged that Vice President Jane Ansah was not invited to a Cabinet meeting despite being available.

While Cabinet was meeting on Monday, Ansah was at Capitol Hill where she shared a video of herself arriving for work, saying: “Mondays are exciting to be in office. I share with you my moments in office of the Vice President at Capitol Hill.”

Ansah later confirmed to the Daily Times that she was not invited to the meeting, raising questions over why the First Vice President was left out of a key government forum.

The meeting was chaired by Second Vice President Enoch Chihana after Mutharika reportedly travelled to Blantyre, leaving the Second Vice President to take charge of Cabinet discussions.

The decision has now intensified scrutiny on Mutharika’s handling of his two deputies, with Dedza Kasina MP Joshua Malango demanding answers on why Ansah was allegedly being sidelined despite being elected alongside the President.

Speaking in Parliament under Standing Order 69, Malango questioned why Chihana chaired the meeting instead of Ansah.

“Why is the Vice-President, who was elected together with the President, not chairing the meeting?” Malango asked.

Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman described the matter as an internal government issue, while Chief Secretary to Government Justin Saidi said the President has the power to delegate either Vice President.

“The law allows the President to delegate the Second Vice President. It also allows the President to delegate the First Vice President,” Saidi said.

However, Saidi said he did not know why Ansah was not invited and referred questions to her office.

The latest incident adds to growing criticism over Ansah’s limited visibility in government, pointing to recent occasions where Chihana has received key assignments while the First Vice President has remained on the sidelines.

Chihana represented Malawi at high-level SADC virtual meetings, specifically chairing the Extraordinary SADC Organ Troika Summit on June 22, 2026, and attending the Extraordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government on June 29, 2026.

Last month, some Malawians also questioned Mutharika’s decision to send Education Minister Bright Msaka to represent him at the unveiling of former Vice President Saulos Chilima’s mausoleum in Nsipe, Ntcheu, despite both Vice Presidents Ansah and Chihana attending the ceremony.