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Banda said she had been “receiving a lot of requests” from Malawians to institute the probe since the death of her predecessor Bingu wa Mutharika on 5 April.
Mutharika, who had been president since 2004, died following a heart attack.
He had anointed his brother Peter, the former foreign affairs minister, as his heir apparent, even though Banda, as Mutharika’s vice president, was next in line to succeed him at his death.
She was not sworn in until 7 April after two days of backroom dealing.
Media reported that several ministers had met twice to seek ways of installing Peter Mutharika as the new president instead.
“Depending on the outcome [of the inquiry], appropriate action will be taken for important lessons to be learned,” Banda said.
She also announced a probe into Mutharika’s death “to establish … the cause of death, medical attention available to the president at the time of his death and the role and activities of various individuals during and after the transition”.
Banda has taken over an economy hobbled by shortages of fuel and foreign currency, making life even more difficult in one of the world’s poorest countries.
Meanwhile, Banda has has reconstituted the cabinet and appointed ministers and deputy ministers.
The new cabinet is as follows:
Joyce Banda – President of the Republic of Malawi, Commander in chief of the Malawi Defence Forces and the Malawi Police Service, Minister responsible for the Public Service, Statutory Corporation, Civil Service Administration, National Relief and Disaster Management and Natural Resources, HIV and Aids.
Vice President and Minister of Health: Khumbo Kachali; Minister of Finance Dr Ken Lipenga; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ephraim Chiume; Minister of Education, Eunice Kazembe, Minister of Energy and Mining, Cassim Chilumpha; Minister of Gender ,Children and Social Welfare, Anita Kalinde; Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Atupele Muluzi; Minister of Justice and Attorney General Ralph Kasambara; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Prof Peter Mwanza; Minister of Transport and Public Works, Sidik Muhamed Mia; Minister of Water Development and Irrigation, Ritchie Bizwick Muheya; Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Grace Zinenani Maseko; Minister of Information, Moses Kalonga Kunkuyu; Minister of Industry and Trade, John Francis Bande; Minister of Lands and Housing, Henry Duncan Phoya; Minister of Home Affairs, Uladi Mussa; Minister of Defence, Ken Edward Kandodo; Minister of Tourism and Culture, Daniel Liwimbi; Minister of Labour, Eunice Makangala; Minister of the Environment, Climate Change Management, Catherine Gotani Hara; Minister of Youth and Sports, Enoch Chihana; Minister of Disability and Elderly Affairs, Reen Kachere. – AFP/Sardc.
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