Update ZambaCase: Bail Granted to Colleen Zamba in Controversial Recruitment Case
Published on December 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM by Evance Kapito
Lilongwe’s Chief Resident Magistrate, Austin Banda, has granted bail to former Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, who is facing charges of alleged abuse of office. The magistrate ruled that the charges against her are not severe enough to justify continued detention.
Magistrate Banda set strict conditions for her release. Zamba must surrender her Area 43 house as surety, report to Area 30 Police Headquarters every two weeks, and hand over her travel documents, remaining in Malawi unless the court grants permission for travel in consultation with the State and her legal team.
The court also instructed the State to submit all case documents within 14 days, after which a date will be set for the continuation of proceedings.
Zamba, who was arrested on 2 December 2025 at Kamuzu International Airport while reportedly preparing to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, is accused of irregularly recruiting over 300 employees between 2022 and 2023 during her tenure as Chief Secretary.
Her lawyers welcomed the bail decision, describing it as a positive step while the legal process continues.
