MEC audit query raises eyebrows, NAO mum

Mystery surrounds an audit of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) which has triggered criminal investigations at the electoral body as key government institutions are unable to clarify on the document. While MEC has described the report as “incomplete and inconclu-sive”, Malawi Police Fiscal and Fraud Section has already formed the basis of investigations by fiscal police. National Audit Office (NAO) spokesperson Rabson Kagwamminga said the audit was commissioned by Treasury under specific terms of reference.

In this regard, he said Treasury was better-placed to comment, say-ing: “We respectfully advise that your queries regarding the status of the report and any matters relating to its release or circulation be directed to the Secretary to the Treasury, who is best placed to re-spond.” However, Treasury spokesperson Williams Banda referred The Na-tion to Attorney General Frank Mbeta who had not responded by press time yesterday to a questionnaire sent to him on July 24 2026, the day Fiscal Police visited MEC headquarters in Lilongwe. In its July 24 statement, MEC questioned why criminal investigations were launched based on what it described as an incomplete audit. The MEC statement, signed by MEC director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa, said the commission was not given an opportunity to respond to the audit queries underpinning the investigation.

Reads the MEC statement: “This process is important because issues initially identified during an audit may subsequently be clarified, re-solved or otherwise explained through the provision of additional information. Such matters may therefore not ultimately constitute audit findings requiring further action.” MEC is currently embroiled in a stand off with the Executive arm of government over implementation of a directive to relocate from Li-longwe to Blantyre. The case is currently in court.