Grace Chiumia

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Grace Chiumia
Bornc.1977 (age 4647) [1]
NationalityMalawian
CitizenshipMalawi
OccupationPolitician
Years active2009 — present
Known forPolitics
TitleMinister of Home Civic Education in the Cabinet of Malawi

Grace Chiumia, is a Malawian politician who has served as Minister of Civic education in the Malawian cabinet, since 24 October 2017. Before her current appointment, she was the Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, in the Malawian Cabinet, from 6 September 2016 until 24 October 2017. [2]

Contents

Career

Chiuma is a medical nurse and malaria coordinator from Mzuzu. [3] She was elected to the National Assembly to represent the Nkhata Bay West district at the May 2009 election. [3] [4] She was given the nickname "Obama" in 2008 by the people of her constituency as the first woman to run to represent them. [1] [5] She successfully ran against eight men. [6]

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. [6]

Chiumia was appointed Minister of Sports and Culture in August 2015, [7] [8] She was appointed Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security in President Peter Mutharika's cabinet in September 2016. [9] She is the youngest minister in the Malawian cabinet. [10] She is also the deputy government chief whip [11] and deputy secretary general of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. [10]

In November 2016, Chiumia faced demonstrations from Karonga residents over the reallocation of the Dzaleka refugee camp to Katili. [12] [13]

Personal life

Chiumia was widowed in 2004. After meeting Reverend Fred Garry from Watertown First Presbyterian Church in New York State, she helped start the Women of Grace Widows' Fund. She also has a daughter. [2] She married Sam Chirwa in July 2011. [2] [3]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Todd Moe (27 October 2009). "More help and hope for Malawi". North Country Public Radio. Canton, New York State, United States. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Nkhoma, Mphatso (24 October 2017). "Malawi Cabinet Reshuffle: Mutharika Swaps Two Ministers, Chiumia And Chazama". Nyasa Times . Blantyre. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Grace Chiumia". Canton, New York State, United States: Women of Grace Widows Fund. 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  4. Madden, Rebecca (5 January 2012). "Malawi Visitors Thanking Benefactors". Daily Courier Observer. Massena, New York State, United States. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. Mhango, Alick (16 November 2016). "Minister 'Grace Obama Chiumia' rubbishes Malawians for changing her name to Trump". The Maravi Post. Blantyre. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Gender Evangelist" (Issue 8, February 2010). Roadmap to Equality. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  7. Malawi News Agency (17 August 2015). "Malawi: New Cabinet Announced - Full List". Lilongwe: Malawi News Agency. Archived from the original (Archived from the Original) on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  8. Banda, Sam (21 March 2016). "A Star that was Grace Chinga". The Daily Times (Malawi) . Blantyre. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  9. Chiumia, Thom (6 September 2016). "Mutharika makes Cabinet reorganisation: Ndau now Malawi govt spokesman, cashgate ministers retained, new ministry created". Nyasa Times . Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  10. 1 2 Khamula, Owen (13 January 2017). "Minister Chiumia Under Fire for Directing Traffic in Lilongwe". Nyasa Times . Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  11. Wanga, Gwede (10 May 2017). "MP Kadzamira says Mutharika delivered State of the Manifesto Address 'Soma' not national". Nyasa Times . Blantyre. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  12. Maravi Post Correspondent (15 November 2016). "Malawi home affairs minister Grace Chiumia 'reduced to tears' as battle for new refugee camp in Karonga rages on". The Maravi Post. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  13. Kumwenda, Tiwonge (16 November 2016). "Minister Chiumia Humiliated in Karonga - Threatens to Deal With Protestors On Relocation of Refugee Camp". Nyasa Times . Blantyre. Retrieved 25 October 2018.