MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Pressure group Malawi First has issued a seven-day ultimatum to four key government ministries to provide clarity on how billions of kwacha allocated for the construction of Mbelwa University in Mzimba were used, despite no visible development on the ground.

The demand was made by Malawi First president Bonnie Kalindo during a press conference held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the very site where the university was expected to be built.

Kalindo challenged the ministries of Finance, Education, Transport, and Public Works to come forward with detailed reports on how the allocated public funds were spent, warning that failure to do so would trigger further action from civil society.

He also called on the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to swiftly launch investigations into what he described as possible misuse or embezzlement of funds earmarked for the project.

Kalindo expressed disappointment that since the university was first announced more than a decade ago, not a single building has been erected on the site.

He described the situation as a betrayal of the people of the Northern Region and a mockery of Malawi’s commitment to equitable development.

The university project was initially launched in 2015 by former President Peter Mutharika, who unveiled a commemorative plaque at the site when the institution was still referred to as Mombera University.

However, ten years later, the only physical evidence of the project is a tar-marked road looping around the site — a road that has since been abandoned by contractors.

Reacting to the demands, Government Spokesperson and Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu dismissed the ultimatum as unnecessary.

Kunkuyu argued that the information Kalindo is requesting is publicly accessible and can be obtained through formal government channels without issuing threats.

He maintained that if Malawi First is genuinely interested in transparency, it should utilize existing legal avenues to seek clarification instead of setting arbitrary deadlines.

Despite the government’s dismissive stance, the controversy has sparked public outrage, particularly among residents of Mzimba and the broader Northern Region, who feel neglected in terms of infrastructure development.

Many have questioned why a project of such national importance has remained stagnant for a decade, while funds continue to be allocated in successive national budgets.

The situation has fueled calls for a comprehensive audit and renewed demands for government accountability on all stalled development projects.

As the seven-day ultimatum begins to count down, all eyes are now on the ministries concerned — and on the ACB — to determine whether action will finally follow years of silence and unfulfilled promises.

The Mbelwa University case is quickly becoming a symbol of broken pledges and a broader crisis of trust between the government and its citizens.