Malawi political controversies and governance issues

In early July 2026, the Malawian Parliament was rocked by an absenteeism scandal. Speaker Sameer Suleman highlighted that MPs were drawing sitting allowances despite frequent absences, prompting civil‑society calls for attendance‑linked payouts and real‑time publishing of attendance data. At the same time, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) reshuffled its front‑bench, moving veteran foreign‑affairs minister George Chaponda to a lower seat to make way for Agriculture Minister Roza Mbilizi, a move interpreted as an intra‑party power struggle ahead of the 2030 elections.

Two weeks later, unrest erupted over a land compensation dispute in Kasasire, Nkhatabay district, where residents were displaced to temporary shelters after a court‑ordered relocation. The community demanded K150 billion in compensation and attempted a march toward Lilongwe, raising concerns for vulnerable groups. Concurrently, MP Steve Baba Malondera blamed former President Lazarus Chakwera’s inner circle for the Malawi Congress Party’s electoral loss and accused the current DPP administration of wasteful spending, including a costly refugee repatriation. These developments illustrate mounting governance challenges and political tensions within Malawi’s ruling elite and broader society.