By Jones Gadama
Human rights advocate Edward Kambanje has hit back at critics of the Reserve Bank of Malawi settlement involving former Deputy Governor Dr. Henry Mathanga, describing the public outrage as political hypocrisy.
In a strongly worded statement, Kambanje said the same political factions now complaining about “taxpayers’ money” were responsible for forcing Dr. Mathanga out of office illegally in 2020.
_”Let’s call a spade a spade! Who illegally forced a seasoned Deputy Governor out of his office in 2020? Who arbitrarily tried to slash his contractual salary by 50% without following a single labor law?”_ Kambanje asked.
He argued that Dr. Mathanga was subjected to what employment law terms _“constructive dismissal”_ after being placed on forced leave and facing an unlawful salary cut. The Industrial Relations Court had to intervene with an injunction at the time.
Kambanje said the recent resolution is not a political payout but a Consent Order issued by the IRC to amicably end a dispute government was set to lose.
_”An employer cannot break the law to push an officer out, and then complain when the court holds them accountable. The IRC consent order actually stops this from becoming a financial disaster for Malawians,”_ he said.
He further clarified key details of the settlement, quoting Attorney General Frank Mbeta’s stipulation that Dr. Mathanga’s reinstatement takes effect from January 1, 2026.
_”This is a critical detail: it means there is NO retroactive backpay burden placed on the taxpayer,”_ Kambanje noted, adding that defending the outcome is about _“protecting the rule of law, fiscal responsibility, and the independence of our technocratic institutions.”_
The statement has ignited debate on social media. On Facebook and X, supporters of Kambanje praised him for _“speaking truth to power.”_ One user wrote: _“Finally someone is explaining this with facts, not noise. The law must be respected.”_
Others were less forgiving. Critics accused the activist of defending a “fat cat” settlement.
A trending comment read: _“We are broke and you want us to pay RBM bosses? This is not justice.”_ The hashtag #MathangaSettlement has been circulating since the statement went public.
Kambanje concluded that the case sets a precedent: _“Controlling authorities must respect labor laws and constitutional due process during administrative transitions.”_
With public opinion divided, pressure is now on government institutions to communicate clearly to avoid further misinformation around the settlement.
