Patricia Wiskes

Patricia Wiskes is Malawi’s Minister of Natural Resources, appointed on 30 January 2026. She is also the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Chief Whip in Parliament, the member who keeps the party’s MPs organised for debates and votes.

She was born on 18 August 1988 and graduated from the University of Malawi in 2017 with a degree in communication and cultural studies. She then worked for Parliament as a public relations specialist, before coming back as an elected member.

She joined active politics in 2013. In September 2025 she won the new Lilongwe City Nankhaka seat for the DPP, beating former MCP MP Alfred Jiya. In October 2025 the party made her Chief Whip, with Martha Munthali-Ngwira as her deputy.

President Mutharika first named her Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture on 30 October 2025. On 30 January 2026 she swapped portfolios with Alfred Gangata and moved to Natural Resources.

Patricia Wiskes is the Member of Parliament for Lilongwe City Nankhaka constituency in Lilongwe district (Lilongwe City), in Malawi’s Central Region. In the 16 September 2025 general election Wiskes won the seat with 6,582 votes (32.8% of valid votes), ahead of Alfred Nkhoma Jiya (MCP) with 5,860. 7 candidates stood.