By Mercy Matonga:
The government has kept a tight lid on costs related to Vice-President Jane Ansah’s private trip to the United Kingdom (UK), where she is going with a delegation of 15 officials from December 26, 2025 to January 10, 2026.
The trip comes at a time the government has announced austerity measures aimed at cutting public expenditure.
Documents seen by The Daily Times, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Malawi High Commission in the UK, indicate that Ansah will travel to the UK on a private trip accompanied by a 15-member delegation.
“I write to inform you that Right Honourable Justice Dr. Jane Ansah, SC, JA (Rtd), Vice President of the Republic of Malawi, will be on a private visit to Nottingham, United Kingdom, from 26 December 2025 to 10 January 2026.
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“The Vice President will be accompanied by Mr. Eric Yesaya, Secretary to the Vice President and other officials as per the attached list,” reads the memo dated December 11, 2025 and signed by Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Chauncy Simwaka.
Press Secretary for the Office of the Vice President Richard Mveriwa confirmed that Ansah would travel to the UK on December 26, 2025 but said all the other details of the trip are private.
“The Vice President will leave on 26 December on a private trip. All the details about her trip remain private,” Mveriwa said.
He refused to comment on the memo.
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Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha also refused to provide details on the cost of the trip and referred The Daily Times to the Office of the Vice President.
“I can’t comment. You should reach her representative for more information,” Mwanamvekha said.
Commenting on government expenditure, National Advocacy Platform Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said it was surprising that the Vice President was travelling with 15 people at a time the government has announced austerity measures aimed at reducing public spending.
“The matter is even more troubling given that the Vice President’s trip to the UK is private, not official, yet an entourage of 15 officials has been deployed. This sends the wrong signal about leadership priorities and fiscal discipline. A private visit must be clearly distinguished from an official mission, and public resources should not be used to underwrite private travel,” Kondowe said.
