Zamba’s fall deepens as long-shadowing procurement scandals roar back into the spotlight

By The Forum

Former Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Collen Zamba spent Wednesday night in police custody after being arrested at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe while preparing to board a Malawi Airlines flight to Geneva, Switzerland.

National Police Spokesperson Lael Chimtembo confirmed the arrest but said details of the charges would be disclosed later. Zamba, who served under the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration of former president Lazarus Chakwera, was detained at the airport mid-morning and later taken to Area 30 Police Headquarters, then Lingadzi Police Station, before being moved to Kanengo Police Station, where she remains.

Her lawyer, Sylvester Ayuba James, said Zamba has not been informed of any specific offence and is expected to appear in court on Thursday. He said she was travelling to Geneva to attend her child’s graduation.

“She has been detained without police disclosing anything about the detention and arrest,” James said. Her sister, Hope Tionge Zamba, Member of Parliament for Dowa South East, also confirmed the planned trip but said the family had not been told the grounds for the arrest.

While police have offered no explanation, the arrest has immediately revived public debate about Zamba’s controversial time in office and the high-profile decisions she oversaw during President Chakwera’s administration.

Zamba’s detention has stirred fresh interest in earlier investigative reporting that examined her influence in government. Over the last two years, The Investigator Magazine and the Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) published detailed exposés on procurement disputes and power struggles involving Zamba during her time as SPC.

Former SPC Collen Zamba arrested at airport as police launch secretive investigation MediaGov — **Martha Chizuma, whose unlawful suspension by Collen Zamba sparked widespread criticism of attempts to weaken the Anti-Corruption Bureau.**

These investigations — now circulating widely on social media — are older stories and have not been linked by police to Wednesday’s arrest, but they help explain why her name remains associated with several contentious episodes.

In one major exposé, The Investigator Magazine reported on a failed K1.5 trillion fuel and fertiliser deal arranged with a man presented as a Dubai-based sheikh who was later revealed to be a fraud. The transaction was intended to benefit the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA), which Zamba chaired, and the Ministry of Agriculture. The deal collapsed amid payment failures and was blamed for worsening Malawi’s fuel shortages at the time.

The same outlet also documented an earlier dispute over an alleged attempt by Zamba to push a US$600 million coal supply contract tied to a Nigerian associate. That clash escalated into a bitter confrontation with then-NOCMA CEO Hellen Buluma, leading to a parliamentary inquiry, which Zamba declined to attend.

Beyond procurement controversies, Zamba’s tenure also drew criticism over governance issues. Her suspension of Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General Martha Chizuma, later ruled unlawful, was widely condemned as an attempt to undermine the country’s top anti-graft institution. Critics also accused her of politicising the civil service through strategic appointments.

Similarly, PIJ’s earlier investigations explored Zamba’s role during the country’s fuel crisis. The outlet reported that she allegedly pressured NOCMA to favour certain suppliers outside normal procurement procedures. The PIJ stories were supported by documents including draft contracts, meeting minutes and WhatsApp exchanges presented by Buluma, who claimed Zamba used the fuel emergency to fast-track preferred suppliers.

Although police have not cited any of these matters in relation to Wednesday’s arrest, the resurfacing of these reports has fueled speculation about what investigators may be looking into, whether related to procurement decisions, abuse of office allegations, or other conduct during her tenure.

As of Wednesday night, Zamba remained at Kanengo Police Station, with police saying formal charges will be announced after ongoing inquiries. Her court appearance on Thursday is expected to clarify whether she will be formally charged or released.

For now, authorities remain tight-lipped, leaving unanswered questions about what triggered the arrest and whether it signals a broader probe into decisions made at the highest levels of the previous administration.

—

Also Read: Mutharika suspends MBC, MACRA and NEEF Chiefs amid accountability drive