Anti-Corruption Bureau Obtains Arrest Warrant for Simplex Chithyola Banda Over Mega Farms Funds
Published on May 11, 2026 at 10:39 AM by Edgar Naitha
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has obtained a warrant of arrest for former Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda over allegations of abuse of office linked to the Mega Farms Project.
Chithyola Banda, who currently serves as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, is accused of authorising about K29.5 billion in extra-budgetary funding for the project without proper justification.
According to ACB spokesperson Jacqueline Ngongonda, the funds allegedly benefited the Greenbelt Authority and were approved outside the official government budget process.
The arrest warrant was issued by the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate Court on May 8, 2026.
Investigators believe the former minister abused his position while serving as head of the country’s finance ministry.
This marks the second legal challenge facing Chithyola Banda within a month following another high-profile arrest in April.
On April 13, 2026, the Malawi Police Service Fiscal and Fraud Section arrested him over alleged abuse of office and money laundering connected to the controversial Eastbridge fertiliser barter deal.
