By Wezzie Gausi:
The 2024 report from the Malawi African Peer Review Mechanism Popular Sensitisation Project (MAPS) has identified significant obstacles in Malawi’s fight against corruption, primarily due to poor access to information, weak whistleblower protection and unclear asset management procedures.
The report recommends that the government fully implement anti-corruption legislation and introduce measures to address gaps.
South African Institute of International Affairs Programme Head Steven Gruzd emphasised the need for ethical conduct and cooperative initiatives.
He highlighted the devastating impact of corruption on Malawi’s socio-economic development.
“In 2013, Malawi experienced its worst financial scandal, known as ‘Cashgate’, exposing significant weaknesses in public finance management and anti-corruption efforts.
“Despite subsequent measures, corruption remains prevalent, and anti-corruption efforts are seen as inadequate,” Gruzd said.
Meanwhile, Robert Mkwezalamba, who is the chairperson for Civil Society Organisations for Peer Review Processes, has said public finance scandals thwart national development efforts.
He cited the April 2021 audit report on Covid funds, which revealed gross mismanagement and wastefulness.
“We, therefore, need to intensify anti-corruption efforts,” Mkwezalamba said.
Presidential Adviser on Civil Society Organisations Martha Kwataine acknowledged the report’s findings but noted that the situation is improving.
In the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, Malawi scored 34 out of 100 points and ranked 110 out of 180 countries, showing little improvement over time.
