Malawi has been ranked the worst performer on the global Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI), raising fresh concerns over corruption, weak law enforcement, and limited citizen oversight in public construction projects.
Governance expert Mabvuto Bamusi said corruption in Malawi’s construction sector is more entrenched than in many other countries, largely due to low public participation and poor monitoring of procurement processes. He spoke on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the launch of Malawi’s first ITI.
Bamusi challenged citizens and civil society organizations to take a more active role in overseeing public projects, arguing that their absence has contributed to substandard infrastructure nationwide.
“These factors are driving the poor quality of infrastructure across the country. People are complaining about roads, schools, bridges, and other projects. Ultimately, Malawi is losing money,” he said.
He emphasized that citizen oversight is critical, not only because projects are funded by taxpayers, but also to restore public confidence and maintain donor trust.
CoST Malawi chairperson Engineer Samuel Biton echoed these concerns, saying Malawi’s challenge is not a lack of laws or policies, but the failure to enforce them.
“We have strong legal frameworks, but implementation remains a challenge. The construction sector needs greater transparency and accountability, particularly through citizen and civil society participation,” Biton said.
Biton added that the ITI report identifies key areas where Malawi must improve to safeguard public infrastructure for future generations.
Construction Industry Regulatory Authority (CIRA) CEO Engineer Gerald Khonje stressed the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to deliver infrastructure that is high-quality and trusted by citizens. He also called on the media to actively expose malpractice in the sector.
According to the ITI, Malawi scored 25.41 percent, placing it below the global average and at the bottom of the rankings. By comparison, Costa Rica topped the index with 66.95 percent, followed by Uganda at 32.26 percent.
