...Soldiers guarding billions, but whose money?
…Malawians demand answers
While ordinary Malawians struggle to survive an economy that squeezes every kwacha from their pockets, viral footage showing billions being ferried in suitcases has laid bare a disturbing question: is the country’s money being protected, or are the powerful simply helping themselves while citizens pay the price?
Footage showing suitcases allegedly packed with billions of kwacha has ignited public anger, with Malawians demanding answers over the handling of public money.
The videos, which have gone viral on social media, appear to show a senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) official collecting large sums of cash from a bank before the money is loaded into a vehicle.
In the footage, nearly five suitcases appear to contain bundles of K5,000 banknotes. Soldiers are seen loading the suitcases into a car while a man identified in the allegations as Collins Magalasi gives instructions.
Magalasi, a former chief executive officer of the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), is already facing charges of money laundering, theft and facilitating fraud in a case linked to transactions surrounding the controversial Amaryllis Hotel acquisition.
The footage has raised fresh questions about the handling of money allegedly connected to the case and the presence of Malawi Defence Force (MDF) personnel during the loading of the cash.
The videos have also triggered angry reactions from Malawians, with some demanding urgent action against suspected corruption and the alleged theft of public funds.
Renowned social media commentator Stanley Onjezani Kenani condemned what he described as the open plunder of the country’s resources.
“Malawi is not being robbed at night. It’s being robbed in broad daylight, by men in suits, protected by men with guns. And they have the audacity to publicly declare that politics to them means solely stealing from the Malawian people. ‘Ndale ndi kudya,’” Kenani wrote on his page.
Lawyer and corruption whistleblower Alexious Kamangila also questioned the presence of soldiers in the footage, particularly in connection with allegations involving pension funds belonging to civil servants.
“One other thing profoundly disturbing in the Collins Magalasi collecting Pensions funds of poor Civil Servants, is that Collins the CRIMINAL was being guarded by MDF Officers. The saddest Irony,” he wrote.
Kamangila also questioned why Magalasi was not in prison and called on Malawians to take action.
“Why is COLLINS MAGALASI not in JAIL??? aMalawi, we have to RISE up and do a Citizens Arrest on Collins Magalasi. ARISE MALAWI, ARISE!” he wrote.
The public reaction comes amid growing demands for accountability over alleged corruption involving public officials and the handling of taxpayers’ money.
