Nationwide power blackouts have sparked a political dispute in Malawi. Nyasa Times reports that Energy and Mining Minister Jean Mathanga has blamed the previous Malawi Congress Party administration for failing to maintain electricity infrastructure. However, officials at the Electricity Generation Company contradicted the government's position, according to the same outlet. EGENCO insiders stated that the ongoing energy crisis is actually driven by severe foreign exchange shortages. These shortages have delayed the importation of vital spare parts for facilities such as the Nkula B hydropower station.
Update: Following earlier coverage of the government's push to recover outstanding debt, the Malawi Enterprise Development Fund will officially resume loan disbursements in May 2026, according to Nyasa Times. MEDF Board Chair Sir James Naphambo announced that the resumption follows institutional reforms implemented during a suspension that began in September 2025. Nyasa Times notes that the fund will adopt a group-based lending model to bypass traditional collateral requirements. Previous defaulters remain strictly barred from accessing new capital.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamveka is receiving praise from governance and economic experts for his recent fiscal management, Nyasa Times reports. Analysts credit Mwanamveka for reducing public spending leaks and managing structural debts over the past six months. According to the publication, these targeted financial controls are expected to help increase Malawi's economic growth from 2.7 percent in 2025 to a projected 3.8 percent in 2026.