EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Ben Phiri Emerges Most Popular Minister in DPP Administration

A recent online survey conducted by Malawi Voice has placed Local Government Minister Dr. Ben Phiri as the most popular and best performing minister in President Peter Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.

The survey, which attracted hundreds of comments and reactions on the Malawi Voice Facebook page, showed that about 80 percent of participants voted for Dr. Phiri ahead of other cabinet ministers.

Health Minister Madalitso Baloyi came second in the poll after receiving praise from the public for his work in the health sector.

Many people who participated in the discussion described Dr. Phiri as a hardworking and development-minded leader who has remained committed to transforming local councils across the country.

Others praised him for introducing reforms aimed at improving service delivery and ensuring councils become more accountable to the people.

Dr. Phiri has also received recognition for championing the K5 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF) guidelines, which many believe have brought order and transparency in the management of development projects at constituency level.

The minister has in recent months been at the forefront advocating for transparency and accountability in district, city and town councils.

Some contributors to the discussion said his hands-on leadership style and regular engagement with councils have helped restore public confidence in local government structures.

Apart from Dr. Phiri and Baloyi, other ministers who received recognition in the survey include Jappie Mhango, Bright Msaka, George Chaponda and Shadreck Namalomba.

The online debate attracted mixed reactions, with many Malawians sharing different views on the performance of ministers serving in the DPP administration.

However, Dr. Phiri’s name stood out throughout the discussions, with many describing him as one of the most visible and active ministers in government.