Update: Former Immigration Director General Charles Kalumo has directly implicated former president Lazarus Chakwera in the controversial issuance of a Malawian diplomatic passport to Nigerian businessman Dozy Mmobuosi. According to Nyasa Times, Kalumo stated in sworn court affidavits that the decision did not originate from his office. Instead, he claims the passport was issued in 2023 under direct orders from the former head of state following a high-level meeting at Kamuzu Palace. Mmobuosi was later indicted in the United States on securities fraud charges. Kalumo's legal team is invoking functional immunity, arguing he cannot be held personally liable for executing presidential instructions.
Update: Opposition leader Simplex Chithyola Banda has spoken out following his recent arrest on money laundering and corruption charges related to the East Bridge fertilizer deal. According to Nyasa Times, Chithyola emerged defiant, stating publicly that he is not broken by the ongoing legal scrutiny. Meanwhile, the government is facing heavy criticism over the rising cost of living. Nyasa Times reports that UDF leader Atupele Muluzi has condemned the administration for relying on a "culture of excuses," arguing that soaring domestic fuel prices are the direct result of excessive government levies rather than global crises.
The government is also working to prevent potential strikes in the higher education sector. According to Nyasa Times, the Public Universities Staff Union is officially demanding a 50 to 60 percent salary increase starting April 2026. Workers cited rising fuel and living costs, warning of industrial unrest and a brain drain if state officials fail to address their compensation demands.