By Linda Kwanjana
Human rights activists have called for the arrest and prosecution of Blantyre businessman Mahmood Azhar Chaudhry, his wife Neelam, and their children, accusing them of orchestrating fraudulent property transfers, giving false information to public officers, and evading tax obligations.
The activists say it is high time the Malawi Police Service and other state agencies act decisively to end what they describe as “a culture of impunity” surrounding the couple’s alleged criminal dealings.
According to immigration records seen by this publication, while Chaudhry has repeatedly claimed Malawian citizenship in court documents, official files show that he and members of his family are British nationals.
Only one trustee of the family’s Malhi Trust, which controls several properties in Blantyre, is a Malawian citizen. The rest, including the wife and children, are listed as British nationals.
Activists argue that this discrepancy amounts to deliberate misrepresentation designed to circumvent laws restricting foreign nationals from acquiring land in Malawi.
The controversy centres on allegations that Chaudhry and his wife knowingly submitted false information to public officers in order to secure property rights and citizenship benefits.
Human rights campaigners, Rhodrick Mapila and Symon Mthangala, point to multiple instances where the couple declared themselves Malawian citizens while transferring properties into the Malhi Trust. Lawyers acting on their behalf are also accused of aiding the deception by filing documents that misrepresented the couple’s nationality.
“This is not just a matter of paperwork errors,” said Mapila. “It is a deliberate scheme to defraud the state, deny rightful revenue, and exploit loopholes in our system. The police must act now to arrest the Chaudhrys and their accomplices.”
Court filings reviewed indicate that the couple’s property transfers lacked Tax Clearance Certificates, a mandatory requirement under Malawi law. Verification at MRA has shown unavailability of tax clearance certificates.
Activists say this omission raises serious questions about whether the transactions were designed to conceal taxable income and avoid scrutiny by the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).
Further allegations involve the undervaluation of properties during transfers to the Malhi Trust. By declaring artificially low values, Chaudhry is accused of deliberately reducing stamp duty obligations.
Activists argue that this practice deprived the government of significant revenue and undermined the integrity of Malawi’s property registration system.
“Every Malawian knows the pain of paying taxes and duties,” said Mthangala. “Yet here we have foreigners manipulating the system, selling properties without proper clearance, and transferring assets at laughably low valuations to dodge stamp duty. This is outright fraud, and it cannot be tolerated.”
The activists warn that the Chaudhry case is emblematic of a broader problem in Malawi, where foreign nationals exploit weak enforcement mechanisms to acquire land and property illegally. They say the government’s failure to act has emboldened individuals to continue fraudulent practices unchecked.
“This is an outcry from Malawians who are deeply disappointed. Foreigners are taking away property through fraudulent transactions. It is high time the government got started prosecuting people who abuse our laws.”
The activists insist that the matter goes beyond Chaudhry and his wife, calling for investigations into all trustees of the Malhi Trust and associates, including their sons Rayyan, Rumman, Hasnain, and daughter Kaneez Fatma. They argue that the trust structure has been used as a shield to disguise foreign ownership of land, in violation of Malawi’s land laws.
“If the Chaudhrys are not arrested and prosecuted, then what hope is there for ordinary Malawians who follow the law?” asked one the activist.
The controversy has sparked widespread anger among Malawians, many of whom see the case as a symbol of systemic corruption and weak enforcement.
Social commentators have noted that ordinary citizens are often subjected to strict enforcement of tax and property laws, while wealthy foreigners appear to operate above the law.
“We are told to pay our taxes, to follow the rules, yet others are allowed to cheat the system and walk free,” said one commenatator on social media.
As pressure mounts, activists say they will continue to push for accountability until the Chaudhrys and their associates face justice. They argue that the case is a test of Malawi’s commitment to the rule of law and its ability to protect citizens from exploitation.
“The time for excuses is over,” declared one activist. “The police must arrest Mahmood Azhar Chaudhry, his wife, and all those involved in these fraudulent activities. Only then can we begin to restore faith in our institutions and end the culture of impunity.”
