…MEC paid for 412 guests at 64-room hotel
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is at the centre of an alleged K10 billion election scandal after a leaked audit reportedly uncovered questionable procurement deals and suspicious transactions.
Among the most startling findings is a claim that a private company was paid almost K2 billion, part of which was allegedly used to hire government vehicles for election activities.
The investigation, published by the Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) Malawi, is based on a leaked National Audit Office (NAO) report examining MEC’s management of funds during the 2025 General Election.
According to PIJ Malawi, the audit portrays “an institution handling billions of taxpayers’ money with systems that repeatedly failed to detect, prevent or explain questionable expenditure.”
One of the biggest queries concerns a K1.8 billion contract awarded to Ernest Holdings to provide 343 election vehicles. Auditors reportedly questioned the procurement after discovering that the company owned only three registered vehicles and allegedly relied heavily on hiring government vehicles to fulfil part of the contract.
The audit also flagged about K45.5 million in possible duplicate vehicle payments and questioned whether the supplier met the financial capacity requirements during the procurement process.
Investigators further raised concerns over fuel transactions, with one MEC vehicle allegedly drawing 354 litres of fuel within just nine minutes—more than double its tank capacity. Another vehicle reportedly received enough diesel to travel an estimated 4.6 million kilometres, prompting auditors to question the integrity of MEC’s fuel management systems.
The report also scrutinised K223.3 million paid for accommodation during election training.
PIJ Malawi reports that MEC paid a hotel in Mzuzu for accommodation for 412 people despite auditors reportedly finding that the facility had capacity for only 64 rooms. “Grand Palace Hotel officials confirmed to auditors that their facility has a maximum capacity of only 64 rooms. The remaining 348 guests were seemingly manufactured on paper to liquidate hundreds of millions in public funds.” Reports PIJ Malawio.
Auditors further questioned K1.2 billion paid to private law firms after reportedly finding no evidence that either the Attorney General’s Chambers or MEC’s Legal Affairs Committee had approved the appointments.
The leaked report also alleges that MEC failed to disclose more than US$5.37 million (over K10 billion) owed to international election suppliers, potentially understating the Commission’s financial liabilities.
Former Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi, who recently left MEC and is separately facing criminal charges relating to alleged abuse of an official vehicle, is among officials mentioned in the audit findings. PIJ reported that efforts to obtain his response were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was switched off.
*MEC declines to comment*
Responding to questions from PIJ Malawi, MEC said it could not comment on the allegations “in the absence of the official audit report”. MEC says it is yet to receive the Auditor General’s final report but confirmed undergoing an audit.
