Former Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda's abuse of office case, which involves over K29 billion tied to the Mega Farms Project, has been referred to the High Court following an application by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, according to Nyasa Times. Chithyola is required to report to the bureau later this week. Meanwhile, political tensions within the Malawi Congress Party are growing. Nyasa Times reports that political scientists and diplomats are criticizing early grassroots endorsements of President Lazarus Chakwera's 2030 election bid, warning that the move could alienate rival talent within the party.
Update: A governance dispute has emerged within Malawi's Country Coordinating Mechanism over the control of Global Fund allocations meant to combat HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. According to Nyasa Times, six senior members have accused the secretariat of attempting to retroactively include absent members in a formal vote that selected the Principal Recipient for the funds.
Update: Investigations into the Chikangawa plane crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others have resumed. Nation Online reports that the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee has reconvened to conclude the first phase of the probe and prepare for Phase Two. The second phase runs from August 24 to September 11 and will focus on testimony from pilots, weather experts, and eyewitnesses on the day of the crash. In a separate cyber fraud update, Nyasa Times notes that the National Oil Company of Malawi lost K700 million to hackers. Scammers duped the state fuel importer into wiring funds to a fake Bank of America account via the National Bank of Malawi after impersonating a Mozambican fuel handling firm.
In local government developments, Minister of Local Government Ben Malunga Phiri has directed district councils to develop strict maintenance policies. Nyasa Times reports the directive aims to safeguard K17 billion worth of newly handed-over World Vision development projects in the Chigodi and Chilenje areas.