Police have arrested former finance minister Sosten Gwengwe, former agriculture minister Samuel Kawale and former secretary to the president and Cabinet Colleen Zamba in connection with investigations into fertiliser and agricultural commodity contracts valued at more than K200 billion, authorities said Tuesday. 3 February 2026.
In a statement, Malawi Police Service Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Lael Chimtembo said the arrests were made jointly with the Anti-Corruption Bureau as part of investigations into contracts awarded to East Bridge.
“The Malawi Police Service, working jointly with the Anti-Corruption Bureau, has arrested three former senior government officials in connection with investigations into contracts awarded to East Bridge involving fertiliser, soya beans and tobacco,” Chimtembo said.
Police said the contracts were entered into between East Bridge and the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) and exceeded an estimated total value of MK200 billion.
Chimtembo said the suspects are being investigated for abuse of office, fraud other than false pretences and money laundering.
The arrests place renewed focus on high-value government procurement decisions approved at the highest levels of the previous administration, with investigators now examining the role of senior Cabinet members and top civil servants in the approval and implementation of the contracts.
Chimtembo said investigations are continuing and assured the public that more information will be released.
“The Malawi Police Service wishes to assure the public that investigations are ongoing, and further details will be communicated in due course,” he said.
The police said the arrests form part of broader efforts to promote accountability and integrity in public contracting as scrutiny intensifies over how large sums of public money were committed under previous administrations.
Meanwhile, opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) publicity secretary Jessie Kabwira has described the arrests as politically motivated.
Kabwira said the timing and manner of the arrests raise concerns about the possible use of law enforcement agencies for political purposes, adding that the party believes the former officials are being targeted because of their past roles in government.
She said the MCP maintains that allegations of wrongdoing should be handled professionally and without political interference, and that those accused should be accorded due process under the law.