Sosten Gwengwe Explained

Honorific Prefix:Honorable
Sosten Gwengwe, M.P.
Office:Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs
Term Start:30 January 2022
Term End:October 2023
President:Lazarus Chakwera
Predecessor:Felix Mlusu
Successor:Simplex Chithyola Banda
Office2:Minister of Trade
Term Start2:28 June 2020
Term End2:26 January 2022
President2:Lazarus Chakwera
Predecessor2:Salim Bagus
Term Start3:2012
Term End3:2014
President3:Joyce Banda
Office4:Member of Parliament
Lilongwe Msozi North
Term Start4:2017
Predecessor4:Highton Jiya
Office5:Member of Parliament
Dedza Central
Term Start5:2009
Term End5:2014
Birth Date:20 May 1977
Nationality:Malawian
Party:Malawi Congress Party
Spouse:Colovine Gwengwe
Profession:Management accountant

Sosten Gwengwe (born 20 May 1977) is a Malawian politician who served as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of the Republic of Malawi from January 30, 2022 until his replacement in October 2023. He previously served as Minister of Trade from June 2020 until his appointment as Finance and Economic Affairs Minister.[1] [2]

Gwengwe was first elected to Parliament in 2009 as a member of the Malawi Congress Party, but announced on August 31, 2011 that he was switching to the Democratic Progressive Party because the MCP "had nothing to offer to the country" and the DPP under President Bingu wa Mutharika had a "clear vision of developing the country".[3] Following the death of President Mutharika, he joined the People's Party.[4]

Early life and education

Gwengwe is a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and has worked in both public and private sector. He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy degree which he obtained from the University of Malawi (The Polytechnic). He is also a holder of Master of Business Administration (Finance) from Oxford Brookes University of the United Kingdom.

Gwengwe has teaching experience after teaching various Business Management courses at London Vocational, Management and Training Business School (an Emile Wolf College) in London. In Malawi, he established Dzuka Girls Secondary School, Dzuka Girls Primary School, Dzuka Private Academy, Alice Gwengwe Foundation, Sosten Gwengwe Foundation and Gwengwe Private Academy.[5]

Political career

Gwengwe is a member of Parliament for Lilongwe Msonzi North. His political career started in 2009 when he was first elected as Member of Parliament for Dedza Central Constituency. Gwengwe has served in the cabinet in various capacities and ministries including Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Industry and Trade. He is currently serving as Minister of Finance after being promoted in a February Cabinet Reshuffle by President Lazarus Chakwera.[6]

In 2014, President Joyce Banda picked Gwengwe to be her running mate. Banda lost the elections and Gwengwe failed to become the Vice President of the country.[7]

Other activities

Notes and References

  1. News: 2014-02-14 . Banda picks youthful running mate . . 2014-02-15 .
  2. News: 2014-02-14 . Get to know Sosten Gwengwe, JB's running mate . Face of Malawi . 2014-02-15 .
  3. Web site: MP Sosten Gwengwe joins DPP | Malawi Nyasa Times – Malawi breaking news in Malawi . 2014-08-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061909/http://www.nyasatimes.com/2011/09/01/mp-sosten-gwengwe-joins-dpp/comment-page-4/ . 2016-03-04 .
  4. Web site: Gwengwe speaks on political career -The Nation Online . 2014-08-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812212000/http://mwnation.com/gwengwe-speaks-political-career/ . 2014-08-12 .
  5. Web site: Hon Sosten A. Gwengwe, MP – presstrust.mw . 2022-07-20 . en-US.
  6. News: 2022-01-28 . Malawi president changes finance minister in reshuffled cabinet . en . Reuters . 2022-07-20.
  7. Web site: 2014-02-13 . JB picks Gwengwe as her running mate: Done deal! - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi . 2022-07-20 . www.nyasatimes.com . en-GB.
  8. http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/members.aspx Board of Governors