By The Forum
The Malawi government has suspended the heads of three key public institutions — the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), and the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) — as part of a sweeping accountability drive.
Secretary to the President and Cabinet Justin Saidi confirmed on Friday that MBC Director General George Kasakula, MACRA Director General Daud Suleman, and NEEF Chief Executive Officer Humphrey Mdyetseni have been placed on forced leave pending investigations.
“It’s true that we are investigating them on a number of issues,” Saidi said. “Revealing the nature of these investigations could jeopardize the process.”
The suspensions come in the wake of the September 16 general elections, during which election observers, including international monitors, faulted MBC for biased coverage. Under Kasakula’s leadership, the public broadcaster was accused of campaigning against Peter Mutharika while promoting then-incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera.
Kasakula, a frequent critic of Mutharika, had publicly argued that the 85-year-old former president was “too old for another term,” blaming his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for fuel shortages and foreign exchange crises during the Chakwera administration.
Mutharika, at the time, accused MACRA of failing to enforce broadcasting regulations.
“My lawyer wrote a letter to Daud Suleman asking him to stop MBC from attacking me every day,” Mutharika told supporters at a rally. “He never responded.”
After being declared winner, Mutharika warned civil servants and politicians against abuse of public funds during the transition period.
“Huge payments are being made, money is being transferred, vehicle numbers are being changed, dubious contracts are being honoured and questionable loans are being given,” he cautioned. “[All] those doing this must stop.”
Soon after the warning, NEEF temporarily suspended operations. Established in 2004 — under various names including MARDEF and MEDF — the fund was designed to provide microloans to small businesses but has long faced criticism for political interference and loan defaults by ruling party loyalists.
The ongoing investigations into Kasakula, Suleman, and Mdyetseni mark Mutharika’s first major test in his new term which observers say signals a tougher stance on corruption and misuse of public institutions.
