By The Forum
From vibrant Lilongwe to reviving a dying Blantyre, Malawi’s newly elected president, Arthur Peter Mutharika, has ordered the relocation of several parastatal headquarters from the capital to the southern cities of Blantyre and Zomba, in what he describes as a move to restore “regional balance and administrative efficiency.”
The decision, formalized through Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, marks one of Mutharika’s earliest major policy actions since assuming office. It fulfills a key campaign pledge to return certain public institutions to Blantyre and Zomba, a reversal of decisions made under former president Lazarus Chakwera’s administration.
During the campaign trail, Mutharika had argued that shifting government offices from Malawi’s commercial hub Blantyre and from the former administrative capital Zomba to Lilongwe had “suffocated economic vibrance” in the south, calling the move “unnecessary and unjust” to its residents.
Under the new directive, four major institutions are set for relocation:
- Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA)
- Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC)
- Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)
- Malawi Prison Service (MPS)
MACRA, MHC, and MEC will move to Blantyre, while MPS will return to Zomba.
According to the order, the relocations aim to promote effective governance, equitable regional development, and enhanced service delivery. It notes that “suitable infrastructure and facilities exist in various regions to host such institutions without compromising operational effectiveness.”
The relocation process took effect October 10, 2025, and must be completed within 90 days. The Chief Secretary has been tasked with providing overall coordination, while affected institutions are required to submit implementation plans to the Office of the President and Cabinet within 30 days.
The Treasury has also been directed to provide financial and logistical support to ensure a seamless transition and prevent disruptions to public services during the move.
While the decision has been welcomed in parts of the southern region as a long-awaited correction, some governance observers have urged caution. They warn that the exercise, though politically popular, could face administrative hurdles and budgetary strains in the short term.
Political observers have also urged the Mutharika administration to consider extending the relocation policy to include regional headquarters in Mzuzu, the main commercial hub of the northern region.
“Mutharika has already surprised the nation with his win, and I’m waiting to be surprised again. This time, I want him to bring something of real relevance to the North,” said Julius Nkosi, a banker based in Mzuzu.
Mutharika won decisively in the September 16 elections, securing 56.7 percent of the vote against 33 percent for Lazarus Chakwera. His Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), long dominant in the South, made significant inroads in the Central Region, shattering the assumption that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) would maintain its stronghold there.
In the North, traditionally a political swing region, voters overwhelmingly backed Mutharika’s DPP, effectively delivering the final blow to the MCP’s presidential ambitions in this election cycle.
