By Jones Gadama
The first six months of any new ministerial tenure often set the tone for years to come, and the period from January to June 2026 under Hon. Peter Mukhito as Minister of Homeland Security has been defined by visible action, rapid reforms, and a renewed sense of public confidence in Malawi’s security institutions.
When placed side by side with the same period last year under Hon. Ezekiel Peter Ching’oma, the contrast in operational tempo and citizen experience is striking, and it points to the impact of leadership style and execution capacity at the Ministry.
From January to June 2025, the Ministry of Homeland Security was publicly scrutinized for lapses in public order management. The June 26, 2025 demonstrations in Lilongwe became a reference point after civil society organizations reported that violence occurred “in full view of the state security agents” without intervention.
The Malawi Law Society and other groups formally called for accountability, arguing that the failure to protect peaceful assembly and to bring perpetrators to justice reflected gaps in operational oversight and responsiveness. Beyond that episode, commentaries from the period noted perceptions of rising insecurity, slow response to emerging threats, and a deficit of public trust in the police and immigration systems.
Policy initiatives were initiated, including the Independent Complaints Commission Strategic Plan and a prison reform bill, but the period was largely remembered for operational criticism rather than service delivery breakthroughs.
Hon. Peter Mukhito assumed the Homeland Security portfolio in October 2025 and entered January 2026 with a clear mandate to restore efficiency and discipline.
What stands out about his first six months is the emphasis on action over announcement. Within weeks of the new year, the Ministry moved decisively to address one of the most persistent citizen pain points: passport delays and corruption in immigration offices.
Confronted with a backlog inherited from stalled procurement processes, Mukhito elevated passport services to essential status, renegotiated supply with Madallas Security Printers, and oversaw the arrival of 10,000 passport booklets in early January 2026, with three industrial printing units dispatched to Mzuzu, Mangochi and Blantyre to decentralize production.
At the same time, Deputy Minister Norman Chisale, working under Mukhito’s directive, conducted surprise inspections at Lilongwe Immigration, leading to arrests of officers accused of demanding bribes. Mukhito’s public position was unambiguous: “The clean-up has begun and we will protect citizens. Nobody is untouchable.”
That zero-tolerance stance quickly translated into shorter queues, more predictable turnaround times, and a measurable shift in public sentiment toward the Department of Immigration.
The reforms did not stop at the passport office. Mukhito prioritized digital transformation and inter-agency coordination as a security multiplier.
He championed the expansion of the MIDAS border management system and the modernization of border passes with support from the International Organization for Migration.
Early reports from border posts indicated smoother coordination between immigration, police, and customs, reducing bottlenecks that previously frustrated travelers and traders.
Internally, the Ministry focused on clarifying roles, timelines, and performance accountability, with Mukhito and Chisale modeling a coordinated leadership culture that staff say has raised expectations and made oversight more consistent. By June 2026, citizens were reporting more predictable service interactions, better-managed border facilities, and a general sense that the Ministry was delivering tangible outcomes rather than waiting for perfect conditions.
Media assessments during the period went as far as describing Mukhito as “Malawi’s best homeland security minister,” citing his record of reducing crime, crisis management, and the disciplined way reforms were being sequenced.
The difference between the two periods is therefore less about policy intentions and more about execution.
Where Jan–June 2025 was marked by public criticism over protest security, perceived inaction, and eroding trust, Jan–June 2026 has been marked by anti-corruption operations, backlog clearance, border modernization, and a visible restoration of confidence across party lines.
Mukhito’s approach has been described repeatedly as that of a “man of action”: he inspects, he arrests where misconduct is found, he renegotiates contracts, he decentralizes services, and he communicates timelines to the public.
That hands-on posture has mattered because security is experienced at the service counter, at the border, and in how quickly the state responds when order is threatened.
It is also important to recognize the political leadership context. President Peter Mutharika’s decision to appoint Mukhito to Homeland Security has been validated by the Ministry’s performance in the first half of 2026.
Mutharika has consistently spoken about the need for a vibrant, results-driven cabinet that puts service delivery first, and Mukhito’s tenure illustrates that approach in practice. By assembling a team that combines experience, discipline, and willingness to act, Mutharika has created conditions for institutions to function more effectively regardless of party affiliation.
The public response has been cross-cutting: citizens, traders, travelers, and civil society actors have acknowledged the improvements not as partisan wins, but as state wins.
The lapses of the previous period, documented in CSO statements and media coverage, have been met with concrete operational corrections: corruption arrests, service decentralization, border system upgrades, and a leadership message that accountability is non-negotiable.
In doing so, Mukhito has picked up the Ministry’s mandate and rebuilt confidence in a sector that touches every Malawian directly.
That is why, six months into 2026, the assessment across stakeholders is that Malawi’s security sector is on a steadier footing, and that the credit belongs to a minister who led with action, and to a President who built a team capable of delivering it.
