Malawi cancels auditor recruitment over suspected leak and corruption
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Nyasa Times
Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau has cancelled recruitment for two posts at the National Audit Office after finding evidence that examination papers had circulated in an internal WhatsApp group and that a senior official had allegedly received a bribe. In a statement dated 21 October 2026, acting director general Gabriel Chembezi ordered a new transparent process and said criminal charges would be brought, Nyasa Times reports.
The Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has ordered the cancellation of recruitment for two posts at the National Audit Office (NAO), the supreme audit institution, after uncovering evidence of leaked examination papers and suspected corruption. The decision concerns the posts of deputy auditor general for IT and forensic information systems, and auditor, according to a statement dated 21 October and signed by Gabriel Chembezi, acting director general of the ACB.
Investigators say the examination papers were circulated in an internal NAO WhatsApp group before the tests. A senior official at the institution is also suspected of receiving a bribe from a candidate, according to the ACB, which asked the NAO to restart the process under transparent and fair rules.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau plans to bring criminal charges against those involved and is to issue new guidance to public institutions to prevent corruption in recruitment. The NAO had suspended the process and retained the advertisements, shortlisting documents, selection criteria and material relating to the preparation, storage, administration and marking of the tests.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
