By Burnett Munthali

The Mwanza Road Accident Report of 1994 serves as a powerful reminder of the inevitable reckoning that awaits any government which, in its moment of power, believes its authority is unassailable. On Page 85 of the Commission of Inquiry report, dated December 23, 1994, a stark warning is delivered:

“This Inquiry should also serve as a warning to all governments that however strong and unchallenged their authority may seem to be at a given moment in time, life is dynamic and things change, and that one day the meekest of the meek will be in a position to rise and question their deeds, and that the truth cannot be suppressed completely and forever.”

• NBM plc year-end interest credit excites customers
  By Suleman Chitera National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has once again drawn positive reactions from customers after sending the year-end interest credit, with many praising the bank for rewarding loyalty and consistent saving throughout 2025. The response followed an announcement on the Bank’s official Facebook page, informing customers that all applicable interest would be… Read more: NBM plc year-end interest credit excites customers
• Kalindo crowns Mutharika statesman for rejecting CDF Bill signing
  By Vincent Gunde Political activist Bon Kalindo has crowned President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika a true statesman of Malawi for rejecting Constituency Development (CDF) Amendment Bill seeking Members of Parliament (MPs) powers to monitor the funding basket in their respective constituencies. Kalindo said the matter on CDF was already brought before the High Court of… Read more: Kalindo crowns Mutharika statesman for rejecting CDF Bill signing
• Mhango Orders Crackdown on Driving Schools as Road Deaths Spiral
  By Suleman Chitera Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango has issued a stern warning to lax driving schools and weak regulators, calling for immediate tightening of regulations and rigorous monitoring to ensure only properly trained and competent drivers are allowed on the country’s roads. Mhango made the remarks after an engagement with leadership… Read more: Mhango Orders Crackdown on Driving Schools as Road Deaths Spiral
• Politics of entitlement: MCP’s cyclophony of self-serve
  By Burnett Munthali The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has called for the immediate release of its Secretary General, Richard Chimwendo Banda, who is currently on remand at Maula Prison over alleged attempted murder charges, a move that reeks of desperation and entitlement, as if the law is meant to bend to their whims. Speaking to… Read more: Politics of entitlement: MCP’s cyclophony of self-serve
• Controversy Erupts Over US-South Africa Refugee Deal
  By Burnett Munthali The US and South African officials reached an agreement during a closed-door meeting in late December to allow the US to continue its controversial effort to bring white South Africans to the US as refugees. This agreement has sparked intense debate and criticism, with many questioning the motivations behind the US’s actions… Read more: Controversy Erupts Over US-South Africa Refugee Deal
• Public Demands Accountability: Why Chimwendo Banda’s Case Must Set a National Precedent
  By Mawa Kumaliwopa Public anger is rising, and it is not without cause. Across Malawi, citizens are speaking with one voice: if Chimwendo Banda is found guilty of the allegations leveled against him, the punishment must be firm, decisive, and exemplary. Anything less would confirm a long-held suspicion—that political power in Malawi still offers protection… Read more: Public Demands Accountability: Why Chimwendo Banda’s Case Must Set a National Precedent
• Walter Nyamilandu Manda Leads Community-Centered Flood Response in Nsanje
  By Suleman Chitera In a powerful demonstration of leadership and compassion, Walter Nyamilandu Manda today joined hands with community members to construct a sandbag dyke aimed at protecting the Nsanje South West community from destructive flooding caused by the Nyamadzere River. This timely intervention was made possible through the corporate social responsibility efforts of Illovo… Read more: Walter Nyamilandu Manda Leads Community-Centered Flood Response in Nsanje
• A Dangerous Game at Sea: Putin, Trump, and the Rising Specter of Global Confrontation
  By Suleman Chitera The world is once again being pushed to the edge of uncertainty as reports emerge that Vladimir Putin has ordered a Russian vessel to sail to Venezuela to collect fuel, escorted by advanced Russian war submarines. Even more alarming is the counter-order reportedly issued by Donald Trump, warning that the vessels should… Read more: A Dangerous Game at Sea: Putin, Trump, and the Rising Specter of Global Confrontation
• Mutharika sides with Malawians withholding consent to CDF
  BY Vincent Gunde President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has sent a strong message to Members of Parliament (MPs) that he is not the same Mutharika of 2014 to 2020 who made Malawians to lose trust in his leadership leading to his ousting from government on the 23rd June, 2020 court sanctioned presidential elections. Mutharika has… Read more: Mutharika sides with Malawians withholding consent to CDF

This profound message emphasizes the transient nature of power and the inevitable shift in societal dynamics that allows the once-silenced to demand accountability. It cautions those in positions of authority to act with integrity, knowing that their actions today may one day be scrutinized by those they once considered powerless.

The Mwanza road accident, which claimed the lives of several political figures, has long been regarded as a pivotal event in Malawi’s political history. The inquiry that followed was not just an investigation into the immediate cause of the accident but also a deep reflection on the broader implications of unchecked governmental power.

This passage highlights a central theme of the report: the idea that governments cannot suppress the truth indefinitely. Even in moments when their authority seems unquestioned, societal change will eventually force the truth to surface. It is a warning for those in power to act ethically, for the future will hold them accountable for their actions.

The extract from the report continues to resonate, not only as part of Malawi’s history but also as a universal lesson for governments around the world.