Tag Archives: President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba

Opinion, Politics

Babylon the great Is fallen: The unraveling of MCP’s illusions as Colleen Zamba, Richard Chimwendo are behind the mess

Jones Gadama

In the annals of history, few phrases resonate with such ominous finality as “Babylon the great is fallen! Babylon the great is fallen!”

This biblical lament, once crying out the collapse of a city that fancied itself invincible, now eerily mirrors the disintegration of Malawi’s ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

Just as Babylon arrogantly presumed its indispensability before tumbling into ruin, so too did MCP arrogate to itself a monopoly on Malawi’s political destiny—only to find itself crumbling under the weight of its own failures and betrayals.

Malawi currently stands at a crossroads, immersed in the fervor of political campaigns ahead of the crucial September 16 Tripartite Elections.

This period, traditionally one of promise and policy articulation, has instead exposed the glaring incompetence and reckless governance of MCP.

Rather than seizing this moment to rectify glaring blunders and rebuild public trust, the party has doubled down on empty assurances and blatant denial of reality.

The heartbreaking irony is that MCP, despite being at the helm, continues to mismanage, mislead, and ignore the very crises it promised to solve. In this crucible of public scrutiny, the truth is undeniable: MCP the Great is fallen.

Perhaps the most glaring indicator of MCP’s collapse is the catastrophic fuel shortage gripping the nation. Across Malawi, fuel pumps stand dry, and vehicles snake in agonizingly long queues, some stretching for days.

This is not a mere inconvenience; it is an economic stranglehold that threatens livelihoods, stalls commerce, and sows widespread frustration.

Yet, in the face of this palpable crisis, MCP leaders maintain a disingenuous narrative, imploring citizens to vote for them with the hollow promise that fuel shortages will disappear once they are re-elected. The absurdity is staggering: the party currently controlling government machinery is powerless or unwilling to resolve an issue that directly undermines its credibility.

This failure is not just administrative but a betrayal of public trust. Surely, Babylon the great is fallen.

The passport debacle further exposes MCP’s incompetence. For weeks now, Malawians eager to pursue opportunities abroad or secure essential identification have faced insurmountable hurdles. Access to passports has become a nightmare, riddled with bureaucratic delays and systemic inefficiencies.

Despite this, MCP continues to assure the electorate that passport access woes will vanish if they remain in power. The contradiction is stark: MCP holds the reins of authority but fails to deliver on even the most basic government functions.

This disconnect between promises and performance highlights a party out of touch with reality and citizen needs. Surely, Babylon the great is fallen.

Economic turmoil compounds the mounting woes. The once-thriving Shoprite stores, symbols of Malawi’s retail progress and consumer confidence, are shuttering their doors in multiple cities. The culprit? Severe foreign exchange shortages that choke imports and stifle business operations.

MCP’s response is a chorus of hollow reassurances, urging supporters to trust that forex shortages will be resolved under their continued leadership. Yet, as the party sits in power, these shortages worsen, eroding investor confidence and dampening economic vitality.

The closure of major retailers is a tangible sign of MCP’s faltering grip on economic stewardship. Surely, Babylon the great is fallen.

The soaring prices of everyday commodities, especially sugar, reflect the economic decay under MCP’s watch. In various parts of the country, a kilogram of sugar now fetches a staggering K5,000—a price that places a basic necessity beyond the reach of ordinary Malawians.

MCP’s pledge to reduce sugar prices to K2,000 remains an unfulfilled fantasy, a cruel joke on a populace desperate for relief.

This failure to stabilize prices not only fuels hardship but reveals a government disconnected from the economic realities of its citizens. Surely, Babylon the great is fallen.

To fully grasp MCP’s downfall, one must consider the political fissures that have hastened its demise.

The Tonse Alliance, initially a coalition that ousted the DPP and brought hope for political renewal, has fractured with devastating consequences for MCP. The departure of the United Transformation Movement (UTM), the very partner that delivered decisive votes to MCP, marked the beginning of the party’s isolation.

Following this, the People’s Party (PP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) similarly withdrew support, leaving MCP politically stranded. This unraveling alliance has stripped MCP of the united front it once enjoyed, exposing its fragility and sowing doubt among voters.

The political isolation is undeniable: MCP stands alone, diminished and vulnerable. Surely, Babylon the great is fallen.

In the face of these cascading failures, MCP’s leadership—embodied by Lazarus Chakwera, Richard Chimwendo, and Collen Zamba—seems trapped in a delusional bubble. Their persistent denial, empty promises, and failure to address core issues betray either a disconnect from reality or a willful disregard for the suffering of Malawians.

This leadership has not only overseen the decline but has actively deepened the crisis through mismanagement and propaganda. Their reign, once marked by hope, is now a symbol of decline. Fare thee well, MCP; your era is ending.

The narrative is clear and uncompromising: MCP’s fall is no accident or temporary setback—it is the result of cumulative neglect, failed promises, and political miscalculations.

The party that once positioned itself as indispensable has revealed itself to be dispensable, unable to meet the basic expectations of governance and economic management.

Malawi’s citizens are witnessing, in real-time, the unraveling of a political giant whose reign was marked by arrogance, inefficiency, and broken trust.

As the September 16 elections approach, Malawians face a critical choice. Will they cling to the crumbling edifice of MCP, or will they embrace a new political dawn that promises accountability, competence, and genuine progress? The lesson of Babylon remains poignant: no power, no matter how great it seems, is immune to collapse when it loses the trust and support of the people.

Indeed, MCP the Great is fallen—fallen from grace, fallen from power, and fallen from the hearts of many Malawians yearning for real change.

The question now is whether this party can rise from its ashes or fade into political obscurity.

For now, the echoes of history ring true: Babylon the great is fallen. And in Malawi, the writing is on the wall.

Feedback: jonesgadama@gmail.com

corruption, Malawi

Anthony Bendulo alleges high-level land scandal in Chakwera’s administration, Colleen Zamba in the hook

Burnett Munthali

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A former ally of Malawi’s ruling party has accused one of the country’s most senior civil servants of corruptly allocating prime land to foreign investors, in a case that could deepen political tensions in President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration.

Anthony Bendulo — an ICT specialist who once testified in support of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) during the disputed 2019 elections — has launched a series of blistering allegations against Colleen Zamba, the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC).

In a string of Facebook posts, Bendulo claims Ms Zamba authorised the free transfer of 417 hectares of government land in Lilongwe’s Area 55, also known as Magwero, to an Indian company. He alleges the property is worth around 130 billion Malawian kwacha (US$70 million).

“Madam Colleen Zamba gave away 130 billion kwacha worth of land to Indians for free, in the name of investors,” Bendulo wrote.

Claims of sidestepping the law

Bendulo says the land deal was not only irregular but accompanied by a purge of senior officials at the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) who resisted the plan.

He alleges Ms Zamba refused to renew the contract of MITC chief executive Paul Kwengwere and replaced him with Kruger Phiri without following formal appointment procedures — no interviews, no vetting.

The whistleblower further claims the Indian company demanded a 99-year lease, exceeding the 50-year limit set in Malawian law.

“This was all engineered to hand over the land,” Bendulo wrote. “The law was bypassed.”

Political fallout

If proven, the allegations could prove politically damaging for President Chakwera, whose MCP-led government is already under scrutiny for perceived governance failures. Bendulo — who insists he remains loyal to the MCP — says Ms Zamba’s conduct has “damaged the good work” of the president.

“I am MCP and this is my government,” he said. “But we must change the SPC.”

Political analysts say the dispute highlights growing internal fractures within Chakwera’s inner circle, and may complicate his efforts to present a united front ahead of the 2025 general elections.

Retaliation and Digital Threats

Bendulo claims that since going public, he has faced intimidation attempts — including what he describes as a failed phishing attack from overseas agents.

“They sent me a link to hack my phone,” he said. “This is kindergarten stuff — baby tactics.”

Silence from Officials

Neither Ms Zamba nor the Office of the President and Cabinet has issued a public response to the allegations. The BBC has not been able to independently verify Bendulo’s claims, and no formal charges have been announced.

Good governance campaigners say the case underscores long-standing concerns about Malawi’s land management, where disputes over allocation to foreign investors have periodically sparked public backlash.

With the country still grappling with economic strain and public frustration over corruption, the outcome of this dispute could shape both domestic political dynamics and Malawi’s credibility with international partners.

Opinion, Politics

Colleen Zamba: The hidden saboteur destroying Malawi’s MCP government from within

Jones Gadama

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s ruling party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), once hailed as the beacon of hope for a transformed nation, is now teetering on the edge of collapse — not due to external enemies but because of the internal rot orchestrated by one of its most trusted yet dangerous insiders: Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba.

While President Lazarus Chakwera remains blind to the true extent of the damage, Zamba has expertly maneuvered herself into a position of unchecked power, systematically dismantling the very foundations on which the MCP government promised to build a prosperous Malawi.

The Government-to-Government (G2G) fuel procurement deal, an initiative personally championed by President Chakwera, promised to revolutionize Malawi’s fuel supply system.

By cutting out middlemen, securing better prices, and ensuring transparency, this arrangement was supposed to save the nation millions and protect the fragile Malawi Kwacha from further currency shocks.

Instead, it has devolved into a breeding ground for corruption and mismanagement, with Zamba at the center of the storm.

Sources reveal that Zamba pressured the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) to award fuel contracts to specific companies without adhering to due procurement processes.

Former acting CEO of NOCMA, Hellen Buluma, bravely exposed how Zamba forced the involvement of shadowy figures—most notably someone known only as “Chief” from Nigeria—alongside local fixers.

These illicit dealings did not just undermine the G2G’s noble objectives; they threatened to plunge Malawi into another fuel crisis by failing to secure direct imports from Gulf nations, a critical step given the impending expiration of the current ten-month fuel deal with Kenya in December 2025.

This scandal over fuel procurement is just the tip of the iceberg. Zamba’s influence has permeated the civil service, where her interference in recruitment processes has sparked outrage and drawn the ire of the country’s Ombudsman, Grace Malera.

Investigations were launched to scrutinize the manner in which certain appointments were made, as numerous reports surfaced of unprocedural recruitments favoring Zamba’s allies and cronies.

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) did not mince words in condemning Zamba’s role in these irregularities, labeling her incompetent and unfit to oversee the civil service.

Yet, in an astonishing display of brazen disregard for accountability, Zamba refused to appear before Parliamentary Committees to answer questions regarding her involvement. Instead, she allegedly deployed her trusted operatives to manipulate the system.

Anthony Bendulo, a key whistleblower who came to prominence during the MCP’s 2019 presidential case, alleges that Zamba used her protégés to obtain a court injunction to block Ombudsman Malera’s investigations, effectively preventing justice and allowing those recruited through dubious means to continue enjoying taxpayer-funded salaries.

Zamba’s modus operandi extends beyond procurement and recruitment.

Reports indicate she revels in internal party sabotage, employing a cadre of spies and informants to record conversations and undermine those who might expose or oppose her. Anderson Makyelo, known on Facebook as “Orama Namalomba,” is one such operative.

He famously recorded former Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Martha Chizuma and Anthony Bendulo, leveraging these recordings to manipulate power dynamics within MCP. In return, Makyelo was rewarded with a promotion to Director of Finance.

This toxic culture of surveillance, backstabbing, and patronage has poisoned the MCP’s internal cohesion and eroded public trust.

What is most alarming is President Chakwera’s apparent ignorance or willful blindness to the rot festering beneath his administration.

Despite the overwhelming evidence and public outcry, he continues to place unwavering trust in Zamba, enabling her to operate with impunity.

This misplaced trust threatens to undo all the gains the MCP government has claimed to achieve since ascending to power.

The consequences for Malawi are dire. A government crippled by internal corruption and mismanagement, spearheaded by individuals like Zamba, cannot deliver the transformative leadership the country desperately needs.

The fuel shortages, civil service inefficiencies, and erosion of public institutions are symptoms of a deeper malaise, one that stems from unchecked abuse of power at the highest levels.

Malawians must take a hard look at the leadership they are being offered as the September 16 elections approach.

The MCP’s track record under Chakwera and Zamba reveals a government riddled with nepotism, corruption, and a blatant disregard for transparency and good governance.

To give this administration another mandate would be to consign Malawi to continued stagnation and decay.

It is time for Malawians to demand accountability—not just from Colleen Zamba but from the entire MCP leadership that has allowed such rot to flourish.

The nation deserves leaders who prioritize the welfare of the people over personal enrichment and political survival.

The upcoming elections present an opportunity to reject the MCP’s failed experiment and to usher in a new era of honest, competent governance.

The revelations surrounding Colleen Zamba’s actions are not merely allegations; they are a clarion call for change.

Malawi cannot afford to be held hostage by a government that is self-destructing from within.

The fate of the nation hangs in the balance, and the choice is clear: boot out the MCP and reclaim the promise of a better Malawi.

Feedback: jonesgadama@gmail.com

Development, Malawi, Technology

“Digital skills, key to industrialization towards Malawi 2063”-SPC Zamba

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba, said Malawi is striving to become an industrialized upper-middle-income country and that Digitalization has to be identified as a key driver of this growth, accelerating the President’s Delivery Agenda of job creation, wealth creation, and food security.

Zamba was speaking during the launch of the digital skills training program at Malawi School of Government (MSG)-Kanengo campus in the capital Lilongwe.

“The success of the digital transformation of Malawi requires the contributions of every individual and she urged participants to fully commit to the program to ensure a meaningful and comprehensive digital transformation for the country.

“This digital skills training program is a significant step towards achieving Malawi’s digital transformation goals and aligning with the government’s strategic plans,” she added.

Zamba observes that this inclusive program brings together participants from different levels of service, and will run for six months to guarantee a thorough and sustainable digital culture transformation.

In his remarks, Principal Secretary for the Department of e-Government in the Ministry of Information Francis Bisika commended the Secretary to the President and Cabinet for leading the way in making sure that Malawi realise the component of digital industrialization as a catalyst for development.

Echoing on the same, MSG Kanengo campus Acting Director, Dr. Jessie Kabwila said digitalization is indeed a key component of industrialisation and human capital development in Malawi’s long-term vision, the Malawi 2063.

“To support this initiative, the Government of Malawi, in partnership with The Tony Blair Institute and the United Nations Development Program, has launched a pilot digital skills training program which is taking place at the Malawi School of Government and will run from mid-April to mid-September and will have three levels of training.

“Level 1 which comprises Junior to Middle-Level Officers, will have 100 participants. This level is aimed at junior to mid-level civil servants responsible for delivering government projects and services that are prioritised for government digitisation and/or tech transformation,” discloses Kabwila.

She added, “Level 2 is for Technical Leads and will have 50 participants and is aimed at Digital Transformation Officers, Principal Officers, Chief Officers, ICT officers and other technical leads responsible for the digital agenda of the country.

“The third level comprises Senior Level Management and will have 30 participants and is aimed at Principal Secretaries, Directors General, Chief Directors, and other senior leaders and decision makers in government”.

Through this initiative, the government, along with its partners, is contributing to building a strong digital ecosystem that will support Malawi’s growth and development