By Lusekero Mhango
In Malawi’s often perilous world of investigative journalism, few names command as much respect, or provoke as much unease among the powerful, as Collins Mtika.
For over two decades, he has dug into corruption, injustice, and abuse of power in a country where such work can be dangerous.
As founder of the Centre for Investigative Journalism in Malawi (CIJM), Mtika has not only broken some of the nation’s biggest stories but also built a new generation of journalists determined to keep power accountable.
A Calling, not a Career
Mtika didn’t fall into journalism by chance. Raised in Zimbabwe, where his parents worked in the mines, he returned to Malawi in the late 1990s convinced that journalism could help dismantle the corruption holding his country back.
He began his career in 2002 at the then Blantyre Newspapers Limited, then Malawi’s biggest media house, and quickly rose to bureau chief.
For Mtika, journalism is not just exposure; it is reform.
His mission was clear from the start: expose wrongdoing, demand accountability, and give voice to ordinary Malawians.
That drive soon turned into something larger. His personal quest became a public mission, culminating in the founding of CIJM, now a regional hub for investigative reporting.
Turning Whispers into Truth
A story for Mtika often begins as a whisper, a leaked document, an anonymous tip, or a suspicious discrepancy in public accounts. Months of verification and cross-checking follow before the evidence is strong enough to publish.
At CIJM, which then partnered with South Africa’s amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, Mtika splits his time between leadership and fieldwork.
The Centre doubles as a newsroom and training ground, where he mentors young reporters and repeats his mantra: “Comment is free, but facts are sacred.”
For him, journalism isn’t about outrage, it is about proof.
Scandals that shook the Nation
Mtika’s work has repeatedly shifted Malawi’s national conversation. His investigation into the Cashgate scandal, an enormous fraud that syphoned millions from state coffers, exposed systemic rot at the heart of government.
The fallout triggered international outrage, aid suspensions, and reforms in financial oversight.
He has since revealed corruption under the Green Belt Initiative, a phantom government loan for a non-existent timber factory, and how a private company manipulated the Attorney General’s office to shield multinational interests.
Even the Catholic Church has felt his scrutiny; he investigated allegations that the St John of God order concealed child abuse.
His reports have appeared in Mail & Guardian and through initiatives like The Money Trail, cementing his reputation as a regional authority on financial crime and institutional abuse.
The Strength of Collaboration
Mtika’s craft thrives on partnership. Over the years, he has collaborated with Nyasa Times, Inter Press Service (IPS), Mail & Guardian, and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
Through CIJM, and with backing from amaBhungane, he has built a newsroom culture rooted in rigour, legal protection, and moral clarity. Just as crucial are the whistleblowers who risk everything to share what they know.
Their courage, he says, is the heartbeat of investigative journalism.
Lessons for the brave
Investigative journalism in Malawi remains treacherous terrain. Reporters face harassment, threats, and arrest, something Mtika knows firsthand. In 2011, he was detained while covering anti-government protests.
His
message to young journalists is blunt:
• Build networks.
Collaboration ensures survival.
• Follow the evidence. Facts are
your only defence.
• Think beyond borders.
Corruption rarely stays local.
• Stay rooted in the public good.
Every exposé must show how corruption harms real lives.
With elections approaching and pressure on the press intensifying, Mtika reminds his peers that resilient, principled journalism is democracy’s first line of defence.
Beyond the Byline
Mtika’s legacy extends beyond his own reporting. Through CIJM, he’s created a haven for reporters, a newsroom, a training centre, and a sanctuary for those tackling high-risk investigations.
His advocacy journalism also tackles pressing social issues: restrictive abortion laws linked to maternal deaths, HIV prevention gaps, and the exploitation of smallholder farmers.
For Mtika, journalism is not just exposure; it is reform.
The Lifelong Fight for Truth
In a profession shadowed by risk, Collins Mtika’s commitment to truth defines him. Despite arrests, threats, and political pressure, he continues to ask the hardest questions.
His guiding principle is simple yet radical: factual, fearless reporting can change a nation’s course.
In a country where silence often shields the powerful, Collins Mtika remains Malawi’s unwavering watchdog, guarding the truth with unflinching resolve.
