Khumbize Chiponda

Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda is a Malawian politician. In 2020 she became Minister of Health in Malawi.

Early life

Khumbize Chiponda is the sister of Ken Kandodo, also a politician,[1] and related to Malawi's founding president, Hastings Banda.[2] Before entering politics she trained as a pharmacist, and worked in the Ministry of Health as a biochemist.[3]

Career as MP

In the 2014 general election Chiponda was elected a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Member of Parliament for the Kasungu South East constituency.[4] In December 2017 Chiponda pressed the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Jean Kalilani, to explain what the private sector was doing to promote early childhood development activities in Malawi.[5] In February 2018 she joined fellow MP Chimwendo Banda in defending the MCP against accusations of atrocities, and attacking "bad ministers" who had stained the MCP image but had subsequently joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).[6] In June 2018 she was announced as Organizing Secretary for the National Executive Committee of the MCP.[7]

She kept her seat in the 2019 general election,[8] and after the election was appointed as Deputy Chief Whip for the MCP.[9] In February 2020 the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioner Linda Kunje defended MEC process to a Parliamentary committee inquiring into irregularities which nullified the May 2019 Presidential elections. When Kunje justified "the same forms you are questioning, the incompetence you are talking of" as what had given MPs their positions, Chiponda accused Kunje of undermining the committee and walked out.[10]

Minister of Health

In July 2020 President Lazarus Chakwera appointed Chiponda to the Cabinet of Malawi as Minister of Health.[11][1] Her appointment prompted some accusations of favouritism and nepotism.[2] Chakwera also picked Chiponda to co-chair a Presidential Taskforce on Coronavirus, together with Dr. John Phuka, a College of Medicine lecturer.[12] She secured Germany's ongoing commitment to help the Malawi health sector amid the pandemic.[3] On 27 July 2020 Chiponda issued a directive to health officials in Karonga to test anyone suspected of COVID-19 symptoms at Songwe Border.[13]

References
  1. Steve Nhlane, Chakwera picked team with passion for Tonse ideology, ready to deliver Tonse's vision, Nyasa Times, 12 July 2020. Accessed 18 January 2021.
  2. Golden Matonga (10 July 2020). "Malawi's new president defends controversial cabinet". Mail & Guardian.
  3. Joshua Malango (24 July 2020). "Germany commits to support Malawi health sector". Nyasa Times.
  4. Parliamentary Results - List of Candidates Declared Winners by Malawi Electoral Commission. Accessed 18 January 2021.
  5. Gomezgani Wanda (1 December 2017). "MPs want Early Childhood Development allocation increased". Nyasa Times.
  6. Wanga Gwede (7 February 2018). "MP Chimwendo says those who dented MCP image now in DPP: Dausi, Ntaba". Nyasa Times.
  7. "MCP announce full NEC members with Lunguzi, Kandodo, Kunkuyu given posts: Mia says Chakwera assembled good team to lead Malawi". Nyasa Times. 3 June 2018.
  8. Felix Mponda. "Victorius [sic] Members of Parliament( 2019-2024): DPP: 62, MCP: 55, Independents: 55, UDF:10, PP: 5, UTM:4, Aford 1". MBC. Archived from the original on 2021-09-23. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. Wanga Gwede (3 July 2019). "MCP provides leader of opposition, appoints Lowe: Kawale becomes Chief Whip". Nyasa Times.
  10. Martha Chikoti (11 February 2020). "We put you in your positions, Commissioner Kunje tells MPs". Malawi 24.
  11. Joseph Kayira, Mixed feelings on Malawi’s new cabinet, Gender Links For Equality and Justice, 9 July 2020. Accessed 10 January 2021.
  12. Malawi leader establishes Covid-19 Office, Malawi 24, 16 July 2020. Accessed 18 January 2021.
  13. Andrew Mkonda (27 July 2020). "Malawi: Commencement of Covid-19 Testing at Songwe Border". Malawi News Agency.
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