New Cabinet Includes Multiple Ministers with Histories of Criminal Investigations and Court Proceedings

By Wadza Botomani

The newly released list of Full Cabinet Ministers reveals that at least ten individuals appointed have previously been the subject of investigations by Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau or the police, or have faced criminal charges in court. The appointments come amid ongoing national efforts to combat corruption in public office.

Former President Arthur Peter Mutharika was slated for questioning by the ACB in July 2021 concerning the alleged abuse of his Taxpayer Identification Number. Enoch Kamzingeni Chihana was arrested by the ACB in August 2021 on charges of conspiracy to influence a public officer.

Alfred Ruwan Gangata was arrested by the Malawi Revenue Authority in January 2025 on allegations of forgery. Joseph Mwanamvekha has faced multiple arrests, one by the ACB in August 2022 for abuse of office and another by police in December 2021 for fraud and abuse of office.

George T. Chaponda was dismissed as Agriculture Minister in 2017 after the ACB discovered large sums of cash at his residence during the “Maizegate” scandal; he was arrested and charged with corruption and abuse of public office. Ben Malunga Phiri was arrested by police in 2021 over corruption at the Ministry of Gender and was reportedly under investigation in 2017 for matters at the Roads Authority.

Jean Mathanga is currently a defendant in a High Court case brought by the ACB, accused of flouting procurement procedures at Escom. Jappie Mhango was arrested and formally charged by the ACB in June 2025 for misuse of public office. Shadrick Namalomba was arrested by the ACB in July 2025 for alleged abuse of office and conspiracy involving illegal timber exports. Norman Chisale is on trial for intimidating government officers and has had his bank accounts frozen in relation to other criminal and civil cases.

Other appointees have been involved in civil or administrative matters. Jane Ansah chaired the Malawi Electoral Commission during the disputed 2019 elections, with courts finding the commission negligent, though she faced no personal criminal charges. Roza Mbilizi Fachi was involved in a civil case regarding an electoral dispute, George Patridge pursued an unlawful dismissal case, and Feston Kaupa was the subject of an Ombudsman’s report that found maladministration. For the remaining individuals on the cabinet list, no public reports of ACB or police investigations, or criminal court cases, were found.