BY DRAXON MALOYA

 

After being a shining star in both private and public sectors in his area of specialization which is financial management, former Trade Minister, Sosten Gwengwe will now present the 2022-2023 national budget in in parliament which is due to meet starting from next week.

 

Gwengwe who has a masters in Business Administration obtained at Oxford Brooks University in the United Kingdom has surpassed many people’s expectations in the way he has performed both as an economic expert and politician hence appointed Finance minister in the just recent announced president Lazarus Chakwera’s Cabinet.

 

Passionate about socioeconomic development, the country’s new exchequer has also taught various Business Management courses at London Vocational Management and Training Business School (Emile Wolf College) which is no mean achievement.

 

Writing on his facebook wall a Malawian now living in Swindon, UK, Enoch Sankhulani Banda says there is something phenomenal in Gwengwe that many don’t know and cannot be called lucky.

 

“When the same young man was  picked by Madam Joyce Banda to be her presidential running mate in 2014 some of us laughed and here we go again Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, for sure this can’t be luck,” Banda commended.

 

Another social media activist based in Mzimba District, Samuel Christy Lwara admired Gwengwe’s intelligence mainly in the manner he speaks which he attributes to his political success.

 

“He doesn’t just say something for the sake of pleasing someone near you, but gives a different view of how someone must think and do things positively for sustainability sake and that’s what servant leadership is all about.

 

“About his leadership styles, I will not say much because I don’t have to do that, but he is just the best and ever hopeful politician of our times,” praised Lwara.

 

However, another social media contributor only identified as Siphiwe Tembo cautioned the new finance minister against complacency urging him to turn around the country’s economy and restore hope to Malawians.

 

“Please, this is your time, turn the tables around and give Malawians hope, be the provider to fight corruption because most of us we are tired of this government’s rotten machinery, be part of Chizuma as you take up the post and if it was possible we could say scout for people who will walk the talk,” stressed Tembo.

 

Gwengwe takes office at a time when Civil Society Organisations including the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) says abuse of public resources and corruption continue to deprive Malawians their socio-economic development, 20 months after the Tonse Alliance took over government.

 

In December last year the HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence said Malawians voted for change which is yet to be seen arguing the inflation is sky rocketing while the socio-economic status has worsened due to local and foreign individuals defrauding the country in the name of investments.