By Suleman Chitera
Lilongwe, Malawi – President Arthur Peter Mutharika has embarked on a bold campaign to reverse what critics describe as the mismanagement and economic deterioration under former President Lazarus Chakwera and the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), a period many say turned the nation into a family-run enterprise.
Since assuming office, Mutharika’s administration has been aggressively addressing systemic challenges left behind by the previous government. From stalled infrastructure projects to ballooning public debt, sources within government circles claim that Chakwera’s tenure was marked by policies that prioritized personal and family interests over national development.
Investigations reveal that key MCP officials and members of Chakwera’s family were deeply involved in questionable procurement contracts, alleged embezzlement of taxpayer money, and mismanagement of public resources. These actions, analysts say, contributed to Malawi’s economic stagnation over the past six years.
Experts point to a series of unfinished national projects, inflated government contracts, and unaccounted-for public funds as evidence of a broader pattern of self-enrichment by the MCP elite. “The country was being treated as a personal estate,” said one former senior civil servant who requested anonymity. “Decisions were made to benefit the family and their close associates, not the Malawian people.”
Mutharika’s administration, in response, has prioritized transparency, accountability, and economic revival. From auditing past government contracts to reviving delayed infrastructure projects, his government is working to restore public trust and revive Malawi’s economy. Already, several key investigations into alleged financial improprieties during Chakwera’s rule have been launched, with top MCP officials reportedly under scrutiny.
Political analysts warn that the road ahead is challenging, as undoing years of alleged mismanagement requires both political will and careful management of public perception. Yet, Mutharika’s supporters argue that decisive action is necessary to prevent further erosion of public resources and to ensure Malawi is no longer treated as a family-run enterprise.
As the nation watches closely, the contrast between Chakwera’s allegedly self-serving tenure and Mutharika’s pledge to restore accountability is becoming a defining narrative in Malawi’s current political landscape.
