Roza Fatch Mbilizi
Roza Fatch Mbilizi | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development | |
| Assumed office 16 October 2025 | |
| President | Peter Mutharika |
| Preceded by | Samuel Kawale Abida Mia |
| Member of the National Assembly for Mangochi Central Constituency | |
| Assumed office 27 October 2025 | |
| President | Peter Mutharika |
| Preceded by | Victoria Kingstone |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rosa Madalo Fatch 6 October 1968 |
| Party | Democratic Progressive Party |
Rosa Madalo Fatch became Roza Fatch Mbilizi is a Malawian politician and Member of Parliament who serves as the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development.[1] She was appointed by President Peter Mutharika in October 2025.[2][3]
Life
Fatch was born on 6 October 1968.[4] She took her first degree in Social Science at Chancellor College and she graduated in 1989. She was enrolled at the University of Queensland from 1991 to 1993 where she graduated with a master's degree in economic studies. She was an economist at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and Development in the 1990s. In 2000 she became the Head of Policy, Planning and Research at the Malawi Revenue Authority and she was there for twelve years.[5]
She married Francis Mbilizi, however he died in 2020.[4]
She announced herself as a candidate for the 2025 election in the Mangochi Central constituency and in August she published her six point plan - which included agriculture.[6] She objected to the name that that the Malawi Electoral Commission placed on the ballot form as she had applied as Roza Madalo Fatch. She had campaigned under this name having been told by the MEC that the name was fine. The commission later registered her under her married name of Rosa Madalo Mbilizi even though she had legally reverted to the name of Fatch when she became a widow. The court supported the MEC who argued that they were trying to minimise confusion in the electorate.[4]
In the September 2025 general election, Mbilizi won the Mangochi Central parliamentary seat, defeating former MP Victoria Kingstone. The following month, Kingstone and two associates were arrested on allegations of plotting to kill Mbilizi following the election.[7] Kingstone denied any wrongdoing and was later released on bail by the Mangochi Magistrate Court.[8]
Re-elected President Peter Mutharika announced her as a Minister on 16 October 2025.[2][3] She was one of only six women in a cabinet of 24 people. The low number of women and the high number of cabinet members attracted some criticism.[9]
References
- ^ "Shock in Mangochi: Former DPP MP Arrested for Alleged Murder Plot of Newly Elected MP for Same Constituency". 15 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Mutharika Tightens His Inner Circle: Lean, Competent, and Results-Driven Administration Emerges". 17 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ a b Nzangaya, Archangel (17 October 2025). "Mutharika names two more cabinet ministers". Malawi 24. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ a b c "𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 - 𝗥𝗼𝘇𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗩. 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗶 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 - Malawi Judiciary". www.judiciary.mw. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "Know your minister". Democratic Progressive Party - DPP on facebook. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "Roza Fatch Six-Point Manifesto for Inclusive Development in Mangochi Central – Malawi 2025 Elections". Malawi Freedom Network. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
- ^ "Shock in Mangochi: Former DPP MP Arrested for Alleged Murder Plot of Newly Elected MP for Same Constituency". 15 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Kandodo, Ayamba (17 October 2025). "Mangochi court grants Kingstone bail". Nation Online. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ "Mutharika's "New" Cabinet Draws Ire: Bloated, Regionally Skewed, and Breaking Key Promises". 31 October 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.