Pressure is mounting on Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to cancel K5.4 billion security services contracts it intends to award three firms, including one owned by Minister of State Alfred Gangata. Yesterday, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) demanded immediate suspension of the contracts, saying MRA’s conduct represents a serious affront to constitutionalism, public ethics and the rule of law. HRDC chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa said the situation reinforces the deeply-entrenched culture of State capture and elite impunity that Malawians have consistently rejected.
“For the very institution mandated to enforce tax compliance to now turn around and reward the same company with a lucrative public contract is morally indefensible and institutionally reckless, regardless of the status of the court case.” He said HRDC further notes that one of the lawyers who represented Gangata in that tax forgery case is now the Commissioner General of MRA, Felix Tambulasi. In an intention to award contracts dated December 26 2025, MRA said it plans to award the collective K5.4 billion contracts to Master Security Services, Kamu Guard Services and Iringa Security Services. MRA spokesperson Wilma Chalulu told yesterday’s edition of The Nation that the notice of award is meant to inform bidders and the public of the public tax collector’s intention to offer the contracts, in accordance with Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) Act requirements.
In a written response, she said no contract has been awarded as the notice forms part of the procurement and evaluation process. Public procurement laws require ministries, departments and agencies to publish notices of intention to award contracts to allow the public 21 days to provide views on the process.
