Atupele Muluzi questions Malawi government priorities, calls for people-centred leadership

Former Cabinet minister and United Democratic Front (UDF) leader Atupele Muluzi has criticised what he described as poor governance, corruption and the misuse of public resources, arguing that Malawi’s challenges are rooted as much in leadership choices as in a lack of resources.

In remarks shared following a follow-up discussion with Podcast Lab20, Muluzi said the country’s future would depend on decisions about how public resources are allocated and whose interests government chooses to serve.

“Malawi’s challenge is not simply a lack of resources. It is also a question of priorities,” Muluzi said.

He questioned whether public resources should continue to benefit a privileged few or be directed towards addressing the needs of ordinary citizens.

“Do we put the interests of a privileged few before the needs of the many? Do we spend scarce public resources on luxury and endless cavalcades, or on hospitals, food security, jobs and opportunities for our people?” he asked.

Muluzi argued that politics should be centred on public service rather than personal benefit, calling for leadership that prioritises investment and national development over extravagance.

“Politics must ultimately be about service: putting people before privilege, investment before extravagance, and Malawi’s future before personal advantage,” he said.

The former minister framed the country’s political and economic direction as a choice between serving a small elite and delivering tangible benefits for citizens.

“The choice is clear: a government and economy that serve the interests of the few, or one that puts the people first and uses our national wealth to improve their lives,” he said.

Muluzi said accountability and leadership would be critical to building a country that works for all Malawians, urging citizens to reflect on the kind of future they want for the nation.

His remarks come amid growing public debate over corruption, government spending and the management of public resources ahead of key political decisions facing the country.