The Director of Public Prosecutions, Fostino Maele, has formally requested the Malawi Police Service to investigate the whereabouts of 30 million litres of fuel reportedly donated to Malawi by the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023.
The development follows a petition by the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), which called for criminal investigations into what it describes as a potential fuel scandal.
In a letter addressed to the organization, Maele confirmed that the matter has now been referred to law enforcement authorities for further inquiry.
CDEDI Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa, welcomed the move but emphasized the need for thorough and transparent investigations.
“Our expectation is that comprehensive criminal investigations will be conducted, the fuel or its monetary value will be recovered, and those responsible will be brought to justice,” said Namiwa.
According to Namiwa, preliminary findings by the organization suggest that only about 1.2 million litres of the donated fuel actually reached Malawi.
He alleges that the remaining bulk of the consignment may have been diverted and sold to a company in Tanzania under unclear circumstances.
The allegations, if proven, could point to one of the most significant public resource mismanagement cases in recent years, raising concerns over accountability and oversight in the handling of international donations.
Authorities are yet to release an official timeline for the investigations.
