The Human Rights Defenders Coalition will meet President Lazarus Chakwera for discussions over the appointment of relatives and families in the new cabinet, officials said on Thursday morning.  

In the 31-member cabinet released on Wednesday, Sidik Mia has been appointed minister for transport while his wife Abida Mia has been named the deputy minister for lands.

Family members of late former president Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Kenny Kandodo and his sister Khumbize Kandodo, have been appointed new labour and health ministers respectively.

The cabinet has also seen the appointment of broadcaster Gospel Kazako as information minister and his sister-in-law Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma as the deputy agriculture minister.

HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence told journalists in Lilongwe that the Coalition will meet President Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday afternoon.

He said the discussions will be centered on issues surrounding the recent appointment of a 31-member full cabinet.

Trapence said the HRDC is committed towards ensuring that rights of Malawians are upheld and providing checks and balances to the Tonse led administration.