LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A high-level recruitment scandal has rocked Malawi’s Parliament with allegations of favoritism and nepotism in the selection process.

According to insiders, senior officers are accused of manipulating the system to favor certain candidates, including relatives and potential romantic partners.

An empecable source told The Maravi Post on Thursday, August 28, 2025 that a senior protocol officer is pushing to recruit a female staff member from the printing department who do not have qualifications for the Job despite the recruitment process being put on hold.

To give her an edge, the officer has allegedly asked the woman to act as an intern for the position in question.

“This is unacceptable. Senior officers are known to recruit their relatives or those with whom they have close relationships.

“The scandal came to light after a voice note shared on a Parliament staff group chat led to an investigation,” said the source.

Both Parliament Communication and Clerk offices kept mum when contacted on the malpractice.

This is not the first time Malawi has seen recruitment scandals.

In 2024, six employees of Phalombe District Council were arrested for alleged corrupt recruitment practices.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has also investigated similar cases, including the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) recruitment scandal involving high-profile figures.

In light of these scandals, there’s growing demand for transparency and accountability in Malawi’s recruitment processes.

To prevent such scandals, Malawi needs robust systems ensuring merit-based recruitment, free from nepotism and favoritism.

Until then, these allegations will continue to undermine trust in institutions.