Former MEC boss and four officials arrested amid K9million school fees scandal

Former Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi has been arrested by Fiscal Police in Lilongwe, in a dramatic escalation of a growing scandal over public money allegedly lavished on his children’s private school fees despite him having already walked out of the institution.

Mpesi’s lawyer, Chrispine Ndalama, confirmed the arrest, revealing that his client was summoned to Fiscal Police offices in Area 6 alongside four other senior MEC officials, including the Commission’s Director of Human Resources.

Ndalama said he received a call from Mpesi confirming the arrest, after which the group was informed they would be transferred to a police cell — though at the time of the call, it remained unclear exactly which station they were being taken to.

MEC footed the bill for elite schooling — after Mpesi had already resigned

The arrest comes amid mounting fury over revelations that MEC continued splashing out on Mpesi’s sons’ education at two of Malawi’s most prestigious schools, even as he was in the process of exiting the organisation entirely.

Documents show MEC paid a staggering K6,454,500 in school fees to Kamuzu Academy for Daniel Mpesi on 16 July 2026, transferred through a National Bank account. On the very same day, the Commission paid a further K2.7 million to Mount Sinai school for Nathan Mpesi, this time via an Ecobank account — payments covering the upcoming school session starting next month.

Crucially, the payments were made months after Mpesi had already tendered his resignation, in a letter dated 24 May 2026. A press statement issued by MEC Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja on 27 May 2026 confirmed Mpesi was serving a three-month notice period, with his final day at the Commission falling on 21 August 2026 — meaning the hefty school fee payments were processed while he was actively working out his notice, rather than while still fully employed in a manner that would ordinarily justify such benefits.

“Abuse of resources” — governance experts demand refund

The revelations have sparked outrage among governance watchdogs, who have branded the payments a clear abuse of public resources and are now demanding the funds be refunded to the Commission in full.

MEC has so far declined to comment on the unfolding scandal, leaving unanswered questions over who authorised the payments, why they were approved for a departing official, and whether similar arrangements have been extended to other senior figures within the organisation.

The arrest of Mpesi and his four colleagues marks a significant escalation in the affair, with Fiscal Police investigations now expected to determine whether the school fee payments amount to criminal misuse of public funds.