The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced the receipt of the first consignment of ballot papers for the 17 March 2026 Parliamentary and Local Government By-Elections.
The ballot papers, contained in 11 pallets, have been securely stored at a warehouse within the Kamuzu International Airport.
The Commission is working diligently to ensure the electoral process is transparent and credible, and will provide updates on the status of the remaining consignment in due course.
Stakeholders are advised to verify the ballot papers, and the MEC will notify them when flight details for the remaining consignment are confirmed.
The Commission remains committed to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections, and appreciates the patience and cooperation of all stakeholders involved.
The receipt of the ballot papers marks a significant milestone in the electoral process, and the MEC is working to ensure a smooth and successful election.
Standard Bank of Malawi Plc has pumped in K20 million into the inaugural Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC) Foundation Fundraising golf tournament slated for 28 March 2028 at the Lilongwe Golf Club.
The SKC Foundation, a charity organisation established in memory of the late Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima by his widow, Mary, aims to raise funds to procure dialysis machines and monitors for strategic public hospitals as guided by the Ministry of Health, addressing the country’s acute shortage of these life-saving machines.
SKC
Standard Bank Chief Executive Officer Phillip Madinga said the Bank is proud to partner with the SKC Foundation on the timely and life-changing initiative.
“Matters of health, especially kidney failure, are affecting many Malawians, and we are aligning ourselves with the government’s goal of improved health for all individuals in the 2063 Malawi development agenda,” Madinga.
Sean Chilima, a Trustee of the SKC Foundation and son to the late Vice President, expressed gratitude to Standard Bank for setting the tone for the fundraising event.
“We thank the Standard Bank for their generous donation, which will go directly towards procuring much-needed dialysis equipment,” he said, calling on other institutions to emulate the example set by Standard Bank.
The country’s public health facilities face a dire shortage of dialysis machines, resulting in preventable deaths.
The late Chilima tragically lost his life in a military plane crash on June 10, 2024 along with eight others. The late Dr. Chilima, a renowned corporate icon, philanthropist, and politician, left behind a legacy of service to the needy, and the golf tournament aims to continue his mission.
Mrs. Triephornia Mpinganjira has issued a statement regarding the ongoing circulation of commentary, speculation, and discussions across various media and social media platforms relating to the matter involving Mr. Feston Kenneth.
In her communication dated 10 March 2026, Mrs. Mpinganjira moves to clarify certain facts surrounding the case in order to prevent further misunderstanding. She confirms that, in her personal capacity, she had extended forgiveness to Mr. Feston Kenneth. However, she emphasizes that the proceedings in question were criminal in nature, instituted and conducted by the State against Mr. Kenneth. The matter was therefore between the State and the accused person, not a private dispute involving herself, with prosecution and case management falling under the jurisdiction of law enforcement authorities.
Mpinganjira
Mrs. Mpinganjira explains that she deliberately refrained from making any public announcement regarding forgiveness at the time the matter arose. This decision was informed by serious concerns about the misuse of her identity on social media platforms. She notes that on several occasions, unknown individuals created fraudulent accounts using her name and likeness to deceive and scam members of the public.
She considered that making public statements on the matter could inadvertently encourage further impersonation, fraud, and exploitation of unsuspecting individuals. In light of this persistent misuse of her identity and the continued creation of fraudulent online accounts, Mrs. Mpinganjira subsequently took the precautionary decision to permanently deactivate and delete her Facebook account. This measure was taken to protect the public from scams carried out in her name and to prevent false association with unauthorized online activities.
Mrs. Mpinganjira respectfully calls upon members of the public, media institutions, and users of online platforms to exercise responsibility and restraint, refraining from involving her name in ongoing speculation, commentary, or narratives concerning this matter. She states her commitment to safeguarding her privacy and personal dignity and requests that the public understand and respect her decision to remain offline on Facebook, expressing appreciation for their understanding and cooperation.
Prominent legal commentator Alexious Kamangila has issued a stinging assessment of the Amaryllis Hotel controversy, claiming that in any serious nation, the scandal would have triggered the resignation of the Minister of Finance, the Reserve Bank Governor, and the Attorney General. Kamangila’s remarks come as regulatory breaches, valuation irregularities, and governance failures continue to engulf the K128.75 billion purchase of the luxury hotel by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund (PSPTF) .
Kamangila has further appealed to Reserve Bank Governor Dr George Partridge to urgently audit the PSPTF, warning that the matter demands immediate attention. His comments reflect growing frustration among civil society and public servants that those responsible for overseeing the transaction have not faced consequences .
Amaryllis Hotel
The controversy centres on the PSPTF’s acquisition of the Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre at a price nearly three times its reported valuation of K47 billion just two years earlier . The deal was concluded in November 2025 despite regulatory directives to suspend it, prompting the Registrar of Financial Institutions to order trustees to reverse the transaction within seven days or face administrative penalties .
According to the Registrar’s hard-hitting letter dated February 20, 2026, the PSPTF board proceeded “well-knowing that the Fund will be in breach of prudential limits” under the Financial Services Directive of 2025 . The regulator also revealed that a direction issued on November 14, 2025 ordering trustees to suspend all dealings relating to the hotel was never lifted, yet the board moved ahead and closed the deal . On December 23, 2025, trustees were instructed to submit a comprehensive report detailing the investment’s viability and how members’ pension funds would be safeguarded, but they concluded the deal before providing the requested submission .
Attorney General Frank Mbeta has firmly denied authorising the purchase, insisting that his legal opinion solely advised trustees to remain compliant with regulatory requirements, leaving the final investment decision to the pension fund board . Mbeta revealed that after receiving complaints from the Malawi Law Society, his office took proactive steps to ensure the matter was investigated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau .
However, the Malawi Law Society has sharply criticised the ACB’s handling of the probe. The legal body described Acting Director General Gabriel Chembezi’s decision to clear officials linked to the deal as raising “serious questions about the credibility, independence, and integrity of the bureau’s so-called investigation” . The Society added that the clearance “casts a dark shadow over the entire probe and fuels public suspicion that the investigation may have been rushed, compromised, or simply inadequate” .
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has demanded that the Office of the Ombudsman conduct a full public inquiry into the transaction, arguing that the ongoing forensic audit into PSPTF’s operations must not remain a closed internal process . CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa insisted that “those implicated should be personally held liable” .
The Secondary School Teachers Union (SESTU) has demanded the resignation of the PSPTF Board of Trustees within three weeks, stating that “the circumstances surrounding this transaction have significantly undermined our confidence in the board’s stewardship of our funds” . SESTU General Secretary Frank Druwen Moyo warned that failure to comply would leave the union with no choice but to pursue further action, adding that “any consequences arising therefrom shall rest solely with the board” .
Teachers contribute five percent of their salaries to the pension fund, with government adding ten percent, on the legitimate expectation that their retirement benefits will be prudently invested . SESTU has expressed particular concern about the rapid escalation of the purchase price “without transparent justification” and the alleged conflict of interest involving legal counsel representing Amaryllis Hotel who reportedly serves as a Director of the ACB .
The Reserve Bank has warned that the proposed purchase exceeds investment limits and creates serious liquidity mismatches and concentration risks . As the third-largest pension fund in the country, any instability within PSPTF could have far-reaching consequences not only for individual retirees but for the stability of the pension sector as a whole .
Kamangila’s assertion that senior government officials should have resigned reflects a broader sentiment among Malawians that accountability remains optional. The Malawi Law Society has demanded that trustees, officers of the fund, and the Attorney General provide full information to the public regarding the exact status of the transaction, including any money already paid, complete due diligence reports, and the specific advice received from the Reserve Bank .
For thousands of public servants whose retirement savings hang in the balance, Kamangila’s words resonate deeply: in a serious country, this scandal would have already claimed scalps. Instead, as regulators issue directives and civil society demands action, the question remains whether those responsible will finally be held to account.
In a bold move to recover millions in unpaid city rates, Blantyre City Mayor Jomo Osman, alongside the Vice Mayor, councillors, directors, and media representatives, moved to close the offices of the Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) today.
The Mayor confirmed the development on social media, stating that operations at the state-owned housing body have been halted until a significant portion of the outstanding debt is settled. “Today, the Vice Mayor, councillors, directors, and media representatives, and I have taken the decision to close Malawi Housing Corporation due to outstanding debts owed to Blantyre City Council. Operations will resume once a portion of the payment is made,” Osman announced.
Jomo at MHC offices
According to reports from the scene, the enforcement was swift and firm. Mayor Osman personally led the operation at MHC’s head offices, reportedly ordering staff to vacate the premises within just seven minutes . The debt in question is understood to be approximately K433 million in unpaid city rates, a significant sum that cripples the council’s ability to deliver services . This action aligns with the council’s recent hardline stance on revenue collection; Blantyre City is currently owed billions by various property owners, and MHC has historically been one of the major defaulters .
The Mayor’s decisive action has sparked a wave of reactions on social media. Many residents applauded his assertiveness. Phillip Benson Simkoko heaped praise on the Mayor, commenting, “Bwana Jomo when it comes to work guys out of all the mayor we have in the country uyu ndi number one this guy can work better than some of the minister we have APM apoint bwana Jomo as minister you won’t regret.”
However, others questioned the abruptness of the shutdown. A user identified as Zondwayo queried the lack of prior discussion, asking, “Why not engage in dialogue first?” This reflects the tension between the urgent need for councils to fund essential services and the preference for negotiated settlements with defaulting institutions .
The closure of MHC comes at a critical time for the corporation, which was recently ordered by the President to relocate its headquarters back to Blantyre from Lilongwe . It remains unclear how this shutdown will affect that transition or the corporation’s overall operations.
