By Pemphero Malimba:
Some civil society organisations (CSOs) have criticised President Peter Mutharika’s remarks regarding Vice President Jane Ansah’s trip to the United Kingdom (UK).
In a national address delivered on New Year’s Eve, Mutharika said Ansah had assured him that she would use her own resources for the trip.
“It got my attention that the vice president planned to use public funds on her private trip to the UK. I wish to report that the vice president assured me that she would use her private resources on her trip,” he said.
The President also reiterated his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
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In a statement released last month, government spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said the government had approved a delegation comprising Ansah and five accompanying officers.
Namalomba added that the government had approved K168 million for the trip.
He indicated that under normal circumstances the trip could have cost the government K294 million.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa told The Daily Times yesterday that the two statements contradicted each other.
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Kaiyatsa said the remarks raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability and internal coherence within government.
“Public officials must speak honestly, especially on matters involving taxpayer money. If public funds were committed, Malawians deserve to know who authorised the expenditure and why misleading information was allowed to circulate,” Kaiyatsa said.
He warned that without a clear and verifiable clarification, the issue would continue to undermine public trust in government leadership.
National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe described the statements as a calculated dishonesty intended to obscure the truth about the use of public resources.
“It reflects a dangerous breakdown in leadership, discipline and accountability at the centre of government,” Kondowe said.
He added that Malawians deserved full disclosure on how public resources were spent.
“They deserve immediate disclosure of all travel costs, funding sources and payment records, as well as clear accountability if public funds were misused. Public office exists to serve the people, not to manipulate information or insult national intelligence,” he said.
Good governance expert George Chaima also questioned the practicality of funding the trip using personal resources.
Chaima said there must be a balance between words and practice to establish the truth.
“It is on record that while the vice president is in the UK she will perform official duties. It would not be possible to carry out such duties at the expense of family income. Moreover, those who work around her cannot be funded from personal income,” Chaima said.
Ansah left the country last week on a visit running from December 26, 2025 to January 10, 2026.
