Old allies, old crimes, and the fading promise of reform
By Collins Mtika
When President Arthur Peter Mutharika unveiled his 24-member cabinet in October 2025, announced in stages between October 5 and 30, many Malawians hoped for renewal: a government built on integrity, accountability, and reform.
Instead, the appointments rekindled old frustrations and fears of a return to impunity.
Several of the newly appointed ministers have been linked to investigations, arrests, or ongoing court cases involving corruption and abuse of office.
For a country still struggling to rebuild after decades of mismanagement, the choices cast a long shadow over fragile reforms and donor confidence.
George Chaponda (Minister of Foreign Affairs) – Dismissed as Minister of Agriculture in 2017 over the “Maizegate” scandal, when investigators discovered stacks of cash hidden in his home. His return to a senior diplomatic post suggests political loyalty continues to outweigh accountability.
Joseph Mwanamvekha (Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development) – A key figure in Mutharika’s previous administration, arrested in 2021 for abuse of office and fraud linked to the sale of a state-owned bank. His reappointment to oversee the treasury has reignited doubts about fiscal credibility within the ruling party.
Jappie Mhango (Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development) – Arrested and charged in June 2025 for alleged abuse of office over a government house sale dating back to 2016–2017. His reinstatement, despite active court proceedings, has deepened public scepticism about the administration’s reform credentials.
Ben Phiri (Minister of Local Government and Rural Development) – A close aide to Mutharika, detained in 2021 on corruption charges tied to procurement irregularities. His comeback reinforces the perception that in Malawi’s politics, loyalty remains the highest qualification for office.
Madalitso Baloyi (Minister of Health and Sanitation) – One of the few technocrats in the new cabinet, Baloyi, a clinical officer with extensive experience in public health, was widely seen as a rare merit-based appointment. Yet her credibility has been overshadowed by the tainted reputations of her colleagues.
The controversies stretch beyond the ministers themselves.
Norman Chisale, Mutharika’s once-feared bodyguard and now Deputy Minister of Homeland Security, has long faced accusations of illicit border dealings and misuse of security funds. Once considered untouchable, his continued influence in government has stirred unease.
Jean Mathanga (Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining) – Formerly a commissioner on the Malawi Electoral Commission during the disputed 2019 election, she was declared “grossly incompetent” by the Constitutional Court. She also faces a High Court case over procurement violations at ESCOM, the state power utility.
Frank Mbeta (Attorney General) – A lawyer previously cited by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with alleged bribery, Mbeta’s appointment as Attorney General has drawn fierce criticism from transparency advocates. His role, overseeing prosecutions, has become, to many, the clearest symbol of Malawi’s deepening culture of impunity.
Anti-corruption groups swiftly condemned the appointments. The National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA) warned that “allowing those under investigation to hold power weakens justice and mocks reform.”
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), once a leading voice in nationwide protests, called the cabinet “a betrayal of public trust”.
The backlash has also unsettled Malawi’s international partners.
The government recently secured K150 billion (about USD 85 million) in grants from donors, including the World Bank ($45 million), the United States ($17.5 million), the United Kingdom ($5.3 million), Norway ($4.5 million), Japan ($3.7 million), China ($3 million), IFAD ($3 million), and Switzerland and Ireland combined.
These funds, critical for health, agriculture, and infrastructure, now risk suspension if donors conclude that accountability has been abandoned.
Political analyst Allan Ntata describes the reshuffle as “a steady erosion of Malawi’s moral and institutional foundations,” arguing that state institutions increasingly protect rather than punish the corrupt.
For ordinary Malawians, the consequences are immediate and visible. Farmers watch subsidies disappear. Hospitals run out of essential medicines. Development projects stall while the powerful prosper.
“When those in charge are tainted by the same crimes they should fight, how can we trust the system?” asks Maria Banda, a smallholder farmer in Lilongwe. “Our hopes for a better life are fading.”
To many observers, Mutharika’s new cabinet reflects a deeper malaise: the triumph of loyalty over public service. Reform-minded voices risk being sidelined as compromised figures consolidate power.
Malawi’s struggle is hardly unique. Across sub-Saharan Africa, corruption corrodes institutions, stifles growth, and erodes faith in democracy.
The memory of the Cashgate scandal of the early 2010s, when billions vanished through fraudulent procurement, still haunts the national conscience.
Critics warn that Mutharika’s appointments mark a relapse, not a renewal. With global aid budgets tightening and donor patience waning, the cost of impunity could be devastating.
Mutharika now faces a defining choice: preserve loyalty by shielding tainted allies or restore credibility by cutting them loose. The path he chooses will shape Malawi’s destiny.
The fight against corruption is not merely about money; it is about moral direction. Whether this government embraces renewal or sinks into decay will determine the character of Malawi’s democracy.
