Grace Chiumia

Grace Chiumia (born 1977) is a Malawian politician who has served as Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security since 6 September 2016.

Career

Chiuma is a nurse and malaria coordinator from Mzuzu.[1] She was elected to the National Assembly to represent the Nkhata Bay West district at the May 2009 election.[1][2] She was given the nickname "Obama" in 2008 by the people of her constituency as the first woman to run to represent them.[3][4] She ran against eight men.[5]

In 2010, Chiumia attended Voluntary Service Overseas's MP training in Pretoria to assist parliamentarians to be more articulate on issues around HIV and AIDS policy implementation.[5]

Chiumia was appointed Minister of Sports and Culture in August 2015,[6][7] She was appointed Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security in President Peter Mutharika's cabinet in September 2016.[8] She is the youngest minister in the cabinet.[9] She is also the deputy government chief whip[10] and deputy secretary general of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.[9]

In November 2016, Chiumia faced demonstrations from Karonga residents over the reallocation of the Dzaleka refugee camp to Katili.[11][12]

Personal life

Chiumia was widowed in 2004. After meeting Rev Fred Garry from Watertown First Presbyterian Church in New York, she helped start the Women of Grace Widows' Fund.[1] She married Sam Chirwa in July 2011.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Grace Chiumia". Women of Grace Widows Fund.
  2. 1 2 Madden, Rebecca (5 January 2012). "Malawi Visitors Thanking Benefactors". Daily Courier Observer. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ↑ Mhango, Alick (16 November 2016). "Minister 'Grace Obama Chiumia' rubbishes Malawians for changing her name to Trump". The Marabi Post. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. ↑ Moe, Todd (27 October 2009). "More help and hope for Malawi". North Country Public Radio. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Gender Evangelist". Roadmap to Equality. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "Malawi: New Cabinet Announced - Full List". All Africa. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  7. ↑ Banda, Sam (21 March 2016). "A Star that was Grace China". The Times. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Chiumia, Thom (6 September 2016). "Mutharika makes Cabinet reorganisation: Ndau now Malawi govt spokesman, cashgate ministers retained, new ministry created". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  9. 1 2 Khamula, Owen (13 January 2017). "Malawi: Minister Chiumia Under Fire for Directing Traffic in Lilongwe". Nyasa Times. All Africa. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  10. ↑ Gwede, Wnaga (10 May 2017). "MP Kadzamira says Mutharika delivered State of the Manifesto Address 'Soma' not national". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Malawi home affairs minister Grace Chiumia 'reduced to tears' as battle for new refugee camp in Karonga rages on". The Maravi Post. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  12. ↑ Kumwenda, Tiwonge (16 November 2016). "Malawi: Minister Chiumia Humiliated in Karonga - Threatens to Deal With Protestors On Relocation of Refugee Camp". The Nyasa Times. All Africa. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
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