Vice President Janeh Ansah SC retired is facing growing public criticism over allegations that she used public funds for a private trip to the United Kingdom, a move that appears to contradict President Peter Mutharika’s directive against unnecessary foreign travel financed by the state, raising fresh concerns about transparency and fiscal discipline within government.
Initial statements from the Office of the Vice President and the Ministry of Information indicated that public funds were allocated for the trip, a position the president said conflicted with assurances he had been given.
In his New Year address, Mutharika expressed surprise and disappointment over the decision, saying he had been assured that the vice president would not use public resources for the travel at a time when the country is grappling with economic recovery challenges.
The apparent contradiction has drawn sharp reactions from governance experts and civil society organizations, who say the matter raises serious questions about accountability at the highest levels of government.
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) Executive Director Willy Kambwandira said the differing official statements have damaged public trust and warrant parliamentary scrutiny.
“One office told Malawians that public funds amounting to 168 million kwacha were being used, while the president says he was assured otherwise. One of the two offices is misleading the nation,” said Kambwandira.
Kambwandira has meanwhile called on Parliament, through relevant committees, to summon the responsible offices to clarify who authorized the expenditure and to provide documentary evidence, including invoices, to demonstrate how the trip was funded.
“Accountability is not demanded through statements; it is demanded through evidence,” he said.
Good governance commentator George Chaima echoed the concerns, describing the situation as a breakdown in ethical communication and a source of political confusion for the nation.
“There is a total contradiction in the information delivered to Malawians. If the president’s statement is true, then the country is in a state of confusion because we do not know who is telling the truth. Authorities cannot govern effectively if they are contradicting each other,” he said.
Chaima warned that such controversies could undermine Malawi’s economic recovery efforts, arguing that perceived misuse of public resources erodes confidence in government stewardship.
“If leaders cannot be trusted to tell the truth, it becomes easier for public funds to be abused without accountability. That poses a serious threat to national growth and good governance,” said Chaima.
Ansah departed the country on December. 26, 2025, and is expected to return on January 10, 2026.