By Francis Belekanyama:
Corruption remains one of the most persistent and destructive challenges facing Malawi today.
It is a silent thief; often invisible in its immediate effects, yet deeply corrosive to national development, public trust and the fair distribution of resources.
In the politics we practice, the critical question persists: Who eats politics while ordinary citizens bear the cost of this systemic leakage?
At its core, corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. In Malawi, this manifests in various forms: from petty bribery at service delivery points to large scale irregularities in public procurement and resource management.
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The cumulative effect is weakened institutions, reduced public confidence and slowed progress toward our national development goals.
Public procurement stands out as one of the most vulnerable areas.
Recurring concerns about inflated contracts for roads, bridges and public buildings continue to surface.
In several cases, projects have been delayed or abandoned despite substantial payments, raising legitimate questions about value for money and accountability. When scarce public resources are lost to overpricing or kickbacks, critical infrastructure needed by citizens suffers.
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The health sector has equally faced serious challenges. Reports of medicine shortages in public hospitals, coupled with irregularities in procurement and distribution, have left many vulnerable Malawians without essential care. Citizens who expect basic treatment often find themselves paying out-of-pocket or going without, while resources meant for life-saving services disappear through systemic gaps.
In education, audits have repeatedly highlighted issues such as ghost workers on the payroll and misallocation of school development funds. These leakages deprive learners of textbooks, proper classrooms and qualified teachers. For a youthful nation striving to build human capital, such losses represent stolen futures.
At the Local Government level, corruption often appears through unauthorized fees, bribery for basic services and manipulation of constituency development funds. Rural and urban communities alike experience situations where access to services depends not on rights but on informal payments.
This undermines the very purpose of decentralisation. Corruption is not confined to the public sector alone. It thrives when private actors collude with officials and when citizens, out of desperation or habit, normalise petty bribery.
This makes the problem deeply systemic and difficult to uproot. The consequences are profound. Corruption reduces government revenue, discourages both local and foreign investment, widens inequality and erodes trust in democratic institutions. It diverts funds from youth empowerment, agricultural modernisation and reliable public services.
When politics becomes an avenue for personal enrichment rather than public service, the majority, especially young Malawians, are left with diminished opportunities.
Bureau chief Gabriel Chembezi
Yet the fight against corruption is not without some progress.
Strengthened oversight by institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau, increased audit scrutiny and a more vigilant media and civil society has helped expose irregularities and secure some convictions. These efforts demonstrate that change is possible when there is consistent commitment.
Moving forward, Malawi needs a more robust, collective approach. Key priorities should include full digitalisation of public procurement to reduce human discretion, stronger protection for whistleblowers, swift implementation of audit recommendations and continuous civic education on integrity and accountability.
Above all, sustained political will across party lines is essential; leaders must demonstrate zero tolerance through actions, not just rhetoric.
As a Member of Parliament, I believe corruption must be confronted not as an inevitable part of politics but as a direct threat to our democracy and development aspirations. It thrives in silence and weak accountability systems.
Breaking this cycle demands national unity, institutional integrity and active citizen participation.
Malawi’s promise as the Warm Heart of Africa cannot be fully realised while corruption continues to devour public resources.
The time has come for uncompromising action. Only then can we ensure that politics serves the people rather than a privileged few.
The author is a Member of Parliament
