Tag Archives: MaBLEM Chairperson MaBLEM Tasforce Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba.

corruption, Malawi

MaBLEM demands Malawi Govt demands accountability on botched US$30 million passport contract

Shaffie A Mtambo

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil society group Malawi Civil Society Led Black Economic Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) has called on the government to take responsibility over a stalled US$30 million passport printing contract that has left thousands of Malawians struggling nearly a year after it was signed.

In a statement released on January 20, 2026 and signed Robert Mkwezalamba, Chairperson of MaBLEM and National Coordinator Fryson Chodzi, said the Malawi Government entered a five year contract in March 2025 with Madras Security Printers Private Limited of India.

The deal was intended to eliminate the persistent backlog of passport applications at the Department of Immigration.

The contract promised that the company would begin printing passports by the end of April 2025, with a capacity of 2,000 passports per day, enough to meet the demand of thousands of applicants nationwide.

However, almost ten months later, MaBLEM says the company has failed to deliver a single passport. Current production remains below 100 per day nationwide, leaving citizens frustrated and vulnerable to corruption and long waits.

Passport printing machines brought into Malawi over five months ago remain unused, highlighting what the organisation calls “gross inefficiency” in contract management.

Deputy Minister of Homeland Security Norman Chisale has reportedly acknowledged the persistent backlog and corruption challenges within the Department of Immigration, showing that the crisis has reached the highest levels of government oversight.

MaBLEM expressed concern that the company, which was reportedly selected from a pool of 25 bidders and presented as having proven technical and operational capacity, has failed to roll out passport printing.

“The government must act now to review or terminate this failed contract and urgently identify a capable contractor to clear the backlog,” said Robert Mkwezalamba.

The civil society organisation said the backlog has now grown to over 100,000 passport applications, creating serious consequences for citizens who rely on passports for employment, education, medical travel and business opportunities.

MaBLEM criticised the government for continuing to tolerate a non performing contractor while ordinary Malawians face delays and hardships in accessing essential services.

The organisation warned that continued delays in passport printing represent a violation of citizens’ rights and an avoidable crisis.

MaBLEM has also questioned the procurement process, calling for stricter due diligence, enforcement, and oversight to prevent similar failures in future government contracts.

The group further urged the government to prioritize efficiency, transparency and accountability in service delivery, saying citizens cannot continue to be punished for administrative failures.

The civil society organisation said it will monitor developments closely and hold authorities accountable if immediate action is not taken.

MaBLEM concluded by emphasizing that the time for excuses has passed and Malawians deserve functioning services and protection of their rights.

Human Rights

Malawi CSOs side with State in prosecuting suspected MCP regime’s panga-wielding thugs

Shaffie A Mtambo

…..CSOs push for full Probe into panga violence networks

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Civil society organizations and human rights activists have renewed calls for a comprehensive investigation into the networks behind Malawi’s past political violence, insisting that the country cannot claim progress while those suspected of financing and coordinating panga-wielding gangs remain untouched.

The organizations, led by HRCC Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba and FND Coordinator Fryson Chodzi, told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Friday that uauthorities must to go beyond prosecuting the foot soldiers and begin examining the powerful figures who allegedly orchestrated and protected the violence.

The CSOs argue that recent arrests of suspected zikwanje members represent only the first step toward meaningful justice.

According to them, Malawi’s darkest period of politically motivated intimidation was too organized, too well funded and too widespread to have been executed by youths acting independently.

They insist that the real architects of the violence must be identified, interrogated and made accountable, if the country is to break the entrenched culture of political terror.

Their renewed demand follows persistent allegations linking certain political operatives, including Annabel, to the coordination or sponsorship of panga-carrying groups.

While no court has yet established her involvement, the CSOs believe that her name’s frequent appearance in community reports and security briefings warrants a formal investigation.

They emphasized that their intention is not to prejudge anyone but to ensure that every allegation is handled transparently and in accordance with the law.

The rights groups further a stressed that Malawi must reject selective justice.

The grouping however warned that focusing solely on the young men who physically carried out the attacks, while ignoring the individuals who allegedly mobilized, funded or shielded them, risks reinforcing the same impunity that has fueled political violence for decades.

The CSOs further noted that many of the violent incidents witnessed before and after the 2025 elections showed patterns of coordination indicating substantial logistical support and protection from influential actors.

The rights groups also highlighted concerns about possible foreign involvement in the supply of weapons and logistical assistance to these groups, describing this dimension as a direct threat to national sovereignty.

They urged government agencies to follow all credible leads, fortify intelligence systems and ensure that no foreign national or local collaborator escapes accountability where evidence exists.

Mkwezalamba and Chodzi underscored that Malawi has reached a defining moment in its democratic journey.

The groupings said the country must confront the full truth about how political violence was financed and sustained and must ensure that all suspects including those with political connections are subjected to the same legal scrutiny as ordinary citizens.

Ending political violence, they argued, requires the political will to pursue justice not only against the perpetrators seen in courtrooms but also against those who operated behind the scenes.

They warned that without a deliberate effort to dismantle the networks that armed and protected zikwanje gangs, Malawi risks repeating the same cycle of intimidation and fear in future elections.

The activists concluded by reminding authorities that justice must travel upward, not just sideways and that the credibility of the justice system will be judged by its willingness to investigate all individuals named in connection with political terror including Annabel.

Politics

HRCC, MaBLEM chair Mkwezalamba laments over registrants poor turn out

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights groups under the banner Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) and the Malawi Black Economic Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) has expressed disappointment with the low figures being recorded in almost all voters registration centres currently underway.

The groupings feels the next government will be elected by a minority of the population.

HRCC and MaBLEM Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba told The Maravi Post in an interview on Sunday, December 8, 2024 that with the minority government “It will be tough for civil rights movement to demand accountability and good governance”.

He made the remarks immediately after registering on Sunday morning at Chambu Primary school, Dzenza in Lilongwe.

Mkwezalamba observes, “Where a government is elected by the majority of the population, demands for accountability, rule of law and consolidation of rights become very easy because the state purely understands that it is indeed ruling on behalf of the majority as opposed to a situation where two million out of an eligible 12 million voting population turned up to do so. This is not fair”.

Mkwezalamba feels that the actions by the opposition political parties, slow rate of Tones Alliance delivery and state of the people’s wellbeing maybe central to the low turn out.

“The timing and approach taken by the opposition parties to demand MEC leadership to resign, suspend registration as well as their demands for the Election Management Devices (EMDs) contract to be cancelled affected greatly the registrants.

“The manner in which the opposition raised these issues showed no hope as if they were not party to the process as a result people bought their views and felt the elections were already rigged hence saw no need to proceed to register as the assertions were that the elections will be rigged and are already being rigged”, he said.

Mkwezalamba urges, “We would like Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), political party leaders, Center for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) to address the public jointly and openly state the relevance of people to register in readiness for the 2025 polls.

“However, we must agree to open all centres with atleast a day or two for a combing exercise in compensation for this misinformation the opposition parties presented to the public in their careless calls.

Mkwezalamba therefore commended MEC for taking care of its staff who he said expressed appreciation so far and stated they had no serious issues affecting their work.

“Apart from their reflectors not being hit resistant (needing ones with small holes for ventilation) Majority of the workers expressed satisfaction with the support this far while echoing my observations of low turn out. I was told the centre had a projection of over 15,000 registrants but since opening only close to 2,500 had registered.

“There is need for more civic education and awareness for the figures to improve in the remaining days or when extra days are re-opened”.

Mkwezalamba adds, “I further engage NRB to check how they are treating their employees cause their staff seemed to have issues but refused to talk.

“A hungry worker is always an angry person and are less productive, we need to improve their conditions if they are to be effective during the entire process”.

Malawians are currently in phase 3 of the exercise which end on December 11.

However, there has been calls for extension of the exercise in all centres of the phases.

Malawi will go for polls on September 16, 2025.

Business, Malawi

“Salima Sugar Company has potential to feed Malawi but….”-CSOs

Lloyd M’bwana

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights groups under the banner Malawi Civil Society Led Black Economic Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) and Human Rights Conservative Committee (HRCC) with 91 membership say Salima Sugar Company has potential to feed the nation with Sugar arguing that only a few selfish individuals are deliberately derailing the firm’s operations.

The CSOs observed that Salima Sugar needs full support from the general public, authorities for the company to meet both local and international Sugar demand.

After touring the facility on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Salima, MaBLEM chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba observed that the company has enough land to produce sugar while generating much needed forex that can beat tobacco.

Mkwezalamba added that the company needs factory expansion and rehabilitation for maximum production.

“We have enough sugarcane to produce sugar but the factory is failing to absolve sugarcane yields for maximum production.

“The company former administrators lack vision for the company only for selfish-interests. Huge some of money went into individuals pockets while the factory not developed despite making profits in shortest period of time,” said Mkwezalamba.

He adds, “Salima Sugar Limited is the nation’s pride. We can’t allow our taxes to be misused by selfish individuals. We want the company to meet local and international sugar demand while generating forex”.

The tour to the site aimed at appreciating the efforts the company is making to stabilise sugar supply in the country.

“The visit is not a fault finding mission but a platform where the company and the CSOs can share ideas on how best to turn around the sugar scarcity situation.

“MaBLEM was formed as an arm of HRCC to advance the interests of citizens especially where there are concerns. We take those concerns to duty bearers so that together we can all find solutions,” he said.

Mkwezalamba added that the grouping has represented Malawians before when Malawi has electricity challenges by engaging the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and the disbanded Electricity Generation Company (Egenco).

Salima Sugar company Acting Factory Manager Osman Kapida said since resuming production on 16 April 16, 2024, the factory is producing 1,250 metric tonnes of high quality sugar per day.

“We know that people were doubting that we can produce quality Sugar but people will judge when they see and taste the kind of Sugar that we are producing,” he said.

Kapida however disclosed that the factory is failing to produce much needed 25,000 tones of sugar due to low capacity.

Salima Sugar was established in 2015 with Malawi owning 40 percent of the shares while an Indian company owned 60 percent but when it was disbanded earlier this year due to management issues, government owns 88 percent of the shares.

The company has plans to expand sugarcane production to 1, 000 hectors.

During the media tour, CSOs found out that former company leadership, the indians forsaken the workers well-fair, no Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to sorounding communities.

Human Rights, SADC, Top News

Malawi’s Xenophobia victims return home

Maravi Post Reporter
LILONGWE-(Maraviost)-The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has joined hands with Malawi’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to begin repatriating Malawians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Spokesperson for the Ministry, Rejoice Shumba, told Zodiak Online that the exercise begins on Wednesday with 35 people of a total of 105 who are willing to come back home.

According to Shumba, about 300 Malawians have been displaced by the xenophobic violence.

Said Shumba; “the IOM will start repatriating 35 people and afterwards they are going to communicate what they are going to do next.”

The Malawi Civil Society Led Black Economic Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) however on Tuesday condemned the fresh wave of attacks on foreigners in South Africa, describing it as barbaric.

Speaking to journalists in the capital Lilongwe, MaBLEM Chairperson, Robert Mkwezalamba, said the xenophobic attacks have been propelled by South African President Cyril Rhamaphosa who called for a clamp down on illegal settlers and entrepreneurs.

The group wants President Rhamaphosa to publicly apologize in 2 weeks, failure which they will drag him to court.

“We condemn the attacks in strongest terms, they are not welcome in a democratic society more importantly in SADC which has endorsed numerous protocols, local and international in terms of how people are going to establish themselves at any level of society,” Mkwezalamba said.

MaBLEM has since called SADC Heads of Government to convene an emergency meeting to address xenophobic attacks in the rainbow nation.

The group also wants the government of Malawi to start a process of documenting all its citizen in South Africa and that the government of South Africa should provide financial support to all Malawians wishing to return home.

Hundreds of thousands of Malawians migrate to South Africa in search of greener pasture.

In 2015, about 420 Malawians were attacked in xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

This is the third time the world has witnessed attacks on foreigners in South Africa, first in 2008 and then 2015.