State Department bars four former Malawi officials from entering US due to corruption

The United States has taken a firm stance against corruption in Malawi by barring four former government officials from entry due to their involvement in significant corruption, the State Department announced.

Former solicitor general and secretary of justice Reyneck Matemba, former director of public procurement and disposal of assets John Suzi-Banda, former Malawi Police Service attorney Mwabi Kaluba, and former Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service George Kainja have all been designated by the State Department for their roles in accepting bribes and other forms of corruption.

“The United States stands with Malawians working towards a more just and prosperous nation by promoting accountability for corrupt officials, including advocating for transparency and integrity in government procurement processes,” said department spokesman Matthew Miller.

President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi has been cracking down on corruption in recent years, with the dissolution of the entire Cabinet in January 2022 and the arrest and charging of the country’s vice president, Saulos Klaus Chilima, over graft allegations.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau in Malawi has been actively investigating public officers for alleged plundering of state resources through the manipulation of the public procurement system.

Malawi, despite being one of the world’s poorest countries with a majority of the population living on less than $2 a day, has been making strides in combating corruption and promoting transparency in government operations. The actions taken by the United States serve as a warning to officials engaging in corrupt practices and signal a commitment to supporting anti-corruption efforts in Malawi.