Allegations of political campaigning by a District Commissioner raise questions about the neutrality of Malawi’s state institutions ahead of next month’s elections. fire.
By CIJM
Malawi heads to the polls on September 16, 2025, in an election widely viewed as a test of its young democracy.
But already, concerns are mounting that the playing field is tilted in favour of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), as allegations of partisan activity by senior civil servants fuel accusations of state capture.
The controversy centres on Rodgers Newa, District Commissioner (DC) of M’mbelwa in northern Malawi. As one of the country’s most powerful local government officials, Newa is accused of joining campaign events for MCP presidential running mate Vitumbiko Mumba in late August.
Eyewitnesses allege that he used his official vehicle to help coordinate rallies across Mzimba district.
Civil servants in Malawi are constitutionally required to remain impartial, a safeguard intended to prevent the abuse of state resources in partisan contests.
But opposition parties and civil society groups say the Newa case is proof that this principle is being eroded.
“District Commissioners are custodians of government administration at the local level,” said local resident Emmanuel Jere. “Once they openly side with political parties, it creates unfair advantages and weakens democracy.”
A test of impartiality
The office of District Commissioner dates back to the colonial era but still plays a central role in Malawi’s governance.
Appointed by the President, DCs control district finances, oversee development, and serve as the vital link between central government and rural communities. Their influence over local chiefs and bureaucrats makes them politically significant figures.
Malawi’s Constitution explicitly forbids civil servants from engaging in partisan politics, while the Public Service Regulations classify such activity as misconduct.
Yet enforcement has long been inconsistent. In May, Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba admitted her office lacked the legal framework to discipline senior officials who break neutrality rules.
Political analyst Wonderful Mkhutche argues the issue is less about gaps in the law and more about the absence of political will.
“This case ultimately reflects a lack of political will,” he said. “The law is clear that civil servants should not take part in partisan politics. But laws only matter if there is a commitment to enforce them, and that commitment is missing.”
A familiar pattern
Accusations of state resource abuse are not new in Malawi, where incumbents have long been accused of blurring the line between governing and campaigning.
The opposition itself has been criticised for similar behaviour when in power.
“The problem is that when today’s opposition was in power, they engaged in the same practices,” Mkhutche noted.
“So, their current outrage rings hollow. The abuse of state resources by incumbents has become a pattern across parties, which reflects a systemic failure to protect public resources from partisan use.”
Reports in recent months suggest that government vehicles have been used to ferry ruling-party supporters to campaign events, while the state broadcaster, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, has been accused of skewing coverage in favor of the MCP.
Human Rights Watch has warned that these practices risk creating an “unequal” electoral environment.
Such allegations revive memories of Malawi’s 2019 presidential election, annulled by the Constitutional Court due to irregularities.
That decision was hailed internationally as a democratic milestone for Africa, but the controversies of 2025 suggest that the structural problems behind it remain unresolved.
The role of traditional leaders
Newa has defended his actions, arguing that his presence at the August events was part of his official duties. “When the President or a Minister visits the district, my office hosts them,” he said in a written statement.
“On August 30, Minister Mumba was donating equipment for the maternity wing of Euthini Rural Hospital. My office and the District Health Office were asked to receive it on behalf of the council. That is my duty.”
He also dismissed accusations regarding his vehicle: “That’s my official vehicle. Whether public or private, I am entitled to use it. To suggest I was coordinating campaign logistics is rubbish.”
Newa further stressed his neutrality, saying: “I don’t work for MCP, personally or professionally. These stories are based on allegations. If there is a case I have committed, let the Secretary to the President and Cabinet discipline me.”
Part of the dispute also involves Malawi’s chiefs, who are often present at political rallies. Analysts say their involvement highlights a deeper tension between traditional authority and democratic neutrality.
“Chiefs have long been used by politicians, often for personal gain,” said Mkhutche.
“That willingness to be co-opted is troubling because chiefs are supposed to represent everyone in their communities. When they openly align with one party, they fail in their duty to remain neutral custodians of their people.”
A fragile safeguard
With just weeks before Malawians head to the polls, the Newa case underscores the fragility of the country’s democratic safeguards.
For Mkhutche, the key question is whether officials will act on their own acknowledgment of institutional weakness.
“Once the Secretary to the President and Cabinet acknowledged the lack of a framework to discipline senior officials, the question should have been: what has been done to close that gap?” he asked.
“It is not enough to point out a weakness in the law. Political will is needed to fill it, and to free civil servants from the pressure to engage in politics simply to secure their jobs.”
