The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has demanded a detailed report on Vice President Jane Ansah’s private trip to the United Kingdom (UK).
She left Malawi on December 26, 2025, and is expected to be back on January 10, 2026.
There have been conflicting, misleading, and irreconcilable statements issued by senior members of the executive on the status of the trip.
Days after Minister of Information Shadreck Namalomba said Ansah took only five officials on the trip at a cost of K168 million, President Peter Mutharika issued a statement that his deputy used own resources.
HRDC chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said the shifting and contradictory narratives are an insult to public intelligence and erode public trust in government.
“Information obtained from reliable inside sources indicates that a delegation of 15 individuals accompanied the Vice President, with seven arriving on the day of her travel and the remaining members joining at later stages.
“This directly contradicts the statement by the Minister of Information, Hon. Shadreck Namalomba, who publicly indicated that only five officials travelled and that the trip cost K168 million in public funds.
“Further compounding these inconsistencies, in a New Year address to the nation, His Excellency the President, Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, stated that the Vice President had assured him that the trip would be financed using private resources.
“These statements are essentially contradictory and deeply troubling. The government has failed to provide a single, coherent, and verifiable explanation. This persistent lack of clarity raises serious concerns about possible misrepresentation of facts, misuse of public resources, and deliberate obfuscation by those entrusted with public authority.
“This matter is not trivial. It goes to the heart of public accountability, especially at a time when Malawians are being told to tighten their belts, endure austerity measures, and accept cuts to essential services. Leaders cannot demand sacrifice from citizens while practicing opacity at the highest levels of government,” he said.
Following the developments, HRDC demanded for the immediate public disclosure of the exact number and identities (by office) of all individuals who travelled with the Vice President; the full, itemised cost of the trip, and all funding sources, whether public or private.
“In the case of private funds, HRDC demands independent verification submitted to Parliament to ensure that public resources were not indirectly used; the legal authority under which any public funds were approved or expended.
“A Public Accounts Committee should launch an investigation to independently establish the facts, determine accountability, and restore public confidence in the oversight of public finances. Government’s continued failure to respond honestly, transparently, and consistently will further undermine public trust and deepen perceptions of impunity within the Executive.
“Malawians deserve truth, transparency, and responsible leadership at all times, especially from those entrusted with the highest public offices. Public office is a position of trust, not privilege, and must be exercised with integrity and accountability,” he said.
