By Suleman Chitera
Malawi’s deepening corruption crisis took a dramatic turn on Friday after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested senior officials at the Greenbelt Authority, alongside private contractors, over what investigators describe as a massive and dubiously executed contracts scheme involving K28.9 billion in advance payments.
Those arrested are Linda Phiri, Finance Manager at the Greenbelt Authority, and Masausto Kamowa, the Authority’s Procurement Manager. The dragnet also swept in Kenneth Khonje of Eistein Construction and Victor Chabwera of PLMB Engineers, companies accused of benefiting from the controversial deals.
According to information gathered by Times, the ACB received a formal complaint on November 10, 2025, alleging that the Greenbelt Authority unlawfully awarded contracts to several construction firms in 2025. Investigators say the Authority then released advance payments totaling K28.9 billion—a figure that has shocked the public and raised serious questions about internal controls, procurement integrity, and political interference.
Even more explosive are allegations that portions of the funds paid to the contractors were channeled to politicians to bankroll political campaigns, while other amounts allegedly found their way back to Greenbelt Authority employees—a classic corruption cycle of kickbacks, patronage, and institutional capture.
When contacted for comment, ACB Acting Director General Hillary Chembezi confirmed the arrests but declined to disclose further details.
“I can confirm the arrests made today (Friday). However, I am unable to provide further details at this time, as the operation is still ongoing. The Anti-Corruption Bureau will issue a press statement once the arrests are complete and it is appropriate to do so,” Chembezi said.
Chembezi further indicated that the operation is far from over, warning that more arrests are expected as investigators widen the net.
A Test Case for Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Fight
This case is rapidly shaping into one of the most consequential corruption probes in recent years, not merely because of the staggering sums involved, but because of the alleged nexus between public officials, private contractors, and political actors. If proven, the scandal would expose how development institutions meant to drive food security and irrigation have been repurposed as pipelines for political financing and personal enrichment.
The Greenbelt Authority, established to spearhead agricultural transformation, now finds itself at the center of a scandal that threatens public confidence in state institutions and revives long-standing concerns that corruption in Malawi is systemic, protected, and politically lubricated.
As the nation awaits the promised ACB statement, pressure is mounting on law enforcement and the political leadership to ensure that this case does not collapse into silence or selective prosecution. For many Malawians, this is no longer just about arrests—it is a test of whether accountability will finally reach the powerful, or once again stop at the door of the politically connected.
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