Government has suspended the heads of three major public institutions amid ongoing investigations into alleged misconduct.
Chief Secretary to the Government, Justin Saidi, Friday confirmed the suspension of Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Director General Daud Suleman, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Director General George Kasakula, and National Economic Empowerment Fund (Neef) Chief Executive Officer Humphrey Mdyetseni.
While Saidi did not disclose the specific allegations, he stated that the trio are being investigated for suspected wrongdoing.
Kasakula’s suspension comes barely a week after he was forced to apologise on live TV to President Peter Mutharika for things he said against the Democratic Progressive Party leader in the run-up to the September 16 general elections.
Alongside the suspensions, government has announced a series of high-profile appointments.
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In the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), Brigadier General Desmond Simba has been appointed Chief of Staff.
The Ministry of Finance also sees a leadership change with Sungani Mandala named as the new Accountant General. This will be the second time for Mandala to occupy the office.
In other appointments, Prosper Mopiwa has taken up the role of Principal Secretary (PS) for e-Government, while Ken Mndala has been appointed PS for Education.
Additionally, Patrick Machika, formerly a director at the Ministry of Trade, has been named PS for the National Registration Bureau (NRB), replacing Mphatso Sambo, whose contract has been terminated.
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Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa said the civil society is closely monitoring the recent developments involving suspensions, contract terminations, and new appointments within key public institutions with keen interest.
“We acknowledge the prerogative of any administration to review leadership in strategic public agencies as part of broader efforts to improve governance and service delivery.
“However, such actions must be anchored in transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to the principles of due process,” Kaiyatsa said.
He observed that the suspension of officials from MBC, Macra, and Neef — all of whom were appointed under the previous administration — naturally raises questions about the motivation and timing of these decisions.
“While we respect the government’s position that investigations are ongoing, we urge that the process be insulated from political influence and guided solely by facts and legal standards.
“Accountability should be pursued without prejudice or the perception of targeting individuals based on their appointment history,” he said.
He added: “Similarly, the wave of new appointments should reflect a genuine commitment to meritocracy. The public must be assured that these decisions are not politically motivated but are instead based on competence, experience, and alignment with institutional mandates.”
Kaiyatsa has since called on government to communicate clearly and proactively about the criteria used in these appointments and suspensions.
“Restoring and maintaining public trust in these institutions requires not only lawful action but also transparency and consistency in how decisions are made,” he said.
