By Investigations Desk
What was introduced as a bold anti-corruption reform has quietly turned into one of the most efficient alleged bribery pipelines in Malawi’s public service.
On 13 November, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) issued a directive requiring all changes of ownership for vehicles, land, and other major assets to be vetted before being processed. The move was meant to stop criminals and corrupt officials from transferring or hiding illicitly acquired assets.
On paper, the policy appeared strong.
In practice, it has reportedly evolved into a structured extortion system.
How the Scheme Works
An investigation by this publication — based on interviews with affected clients, confidential sources, and direct observation at Road Traffic Directorate (RTD) offices — uncovered a pattern of alleged coordinated bribery involving officers from RTD and individuals linked to the ACB.
According to multiple sources:
RTD officers act as gatekeepers to the vetting queue.
Clients are told the process could take weeks or months unless they receive “assistance”.
That “assistance” reportedly comes at a fixed price:
K50,000 for small vehicles
K80,000 for pickups and larger assets
Once money changes hands, RTD officers allegedly contact specific ACB-linked officials who fast-track approvals.
Clients who pay are reportedly processed within hours.
Those who refuse face long, unexplained delays.
Fast-Track for the Corrupt, Freeze for the Honest
In cases documented during this investigation:
Some clients who refused to pay had their files suddenly “misplaced”
Others were told their documents contained “errors” requiring repeated resubmission
Several were placed in indefinite “review queues” without timelines
In contrast, clients who paid reportedly had their vetting completed the same day.
This pattern suggests an organised system rather than isolated misconduct.
Middlemen Operating in the Open
The investigation found that brokers openly operate around RTD offices, directly approaching clients with offers to “speed up” their applications in exchange for cash.
One client quoted a middleman saying:
“If you have K50,000, your file can move today.”
These middlemen are believed to work in coordination with insiders, sharing proceeds after approvals are secured.
Victims describe the operation as predictable, structured, and institutionalised — corruption functioning with troubling efficiency.
ACB Silence, Public Suffering
Despite the serious allegations, the ACB has not publicly responded to concerns about possible internal involvement.
The institution created to fight corruption now faces questions about whether its own systems are being exploited.
Meanwhile, ordinary Malawians without the money to pay bribes remain locked out of lawful ownership processes.
Where Does Justice Begin?
This case highlights a painful reality:
When anti-corruption systems themselves become vulnerable to abuse, citizens are left without protection.
Unless independent investigations are conducted and any wrongdoing addressed transparently, the vetting system risks remaining what many now describe as a toll gate rather than a safeguard.
