Government pressured to tackle corruption

The government is under increasing pressure to address corruption, which continues to drain public funds and strain the nation’s economy.

During the 2025/2026 Ministerial Pre-Budget Consultations for Young People held in Lilongwe on Tuesday, the youth expressed serious concerns about the issue.

Youth and Society (YAS) Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka cited a troubling study indicating that at least 40 percent of the national budget is misappropriated, despite the country’s pressing challenges.

“With these revelations, it seems like we create a budget just for it to be siphoned off into people’s pockets. We borrow money only for it to be stolen, and we pay taxes for it to be misused. That is very unfortunate,” Kajoloweka said.

He called for stricter penalties for those involved in corruption to deter future offenders.

Kajoloweka also criticized the lack of transparency in the mining sector, stating that most players are foreign investors and that there is minimal public information about the industry. He urged the government to take a more active role and involve more Malawian investors.

National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) Executive Director Rex Chapota emphasized the importance of youth engagement in national planning, noting that young people make up the majority of the country’s population.

He stressed the need for a budget that prioritizes youth involvement in key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, mining, and manufacturing.

In response, Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda assured that the 2025/26 national budget will be youth-centric, recognizing young people as key drivers of national development.

“We are working hard to end corruption and will ensure that resources are allocated to their intended purposes. We will enforce the Public Finance Management Act,” Banda said.

The consultation meeting brought together 100 youth participants from across the country.