Almost three months after State Residences were publicly criticised for their dilapidated condition, President Peter Mutharika has returned to and fully occupied the official residence at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
Mutharika, who was sworn in in October, had been operating from private residences after government officials described the State Residences as temporarily uninhabitable.
On his return from South Africa last week, Mutharika moved into Sanjika Palace and on Friday resumed official duties in Lilongwe from the State Residence. Presidential Press Secretary Cathy Maulidi said the main house received priority repairs to make it habitable for the President.
“We prioritised the main residence for His Excellency’s occupancy, focusing on essential repairs to make it habitable. Full maintenance will happen when funds are available,” Maulidi said, adding that full rehabilitation has been deferred because of limited government resources.
Maulidi, however, could not disclose how much has been used in maintenance, saying the official report will be issued soon.
But civil society leaders have demanded prompt disclosure of the scope and cost of the maintenance.,
National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said routine maintenance after a change of presidency is expected, but the public must be informed about what was done and how much it cost.
“Maintenance at Kamuzu Palace after a change of presidency is a normal and often necessary practice to ensure the facility remains functional and secure. At the same time, consistency with earlier commitments to openness requires that the scope and cost of such works be clearly and promptly disclosed. Doing so is not about suspicion, but about reinforcing transparency and public confidence in the management of State resources,” he said.
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT) executive director Willy Kambwandira echoed the call for a detailed accounting.
He said a proper report on how much was planned for maintenance and what has been used would solidify accountability cornerstone by the new administration.
“Transparency is not a favour to Malawians; it is a constitutional obligation that government officials must oblige. The secrecy around the state house expenditure is not just poor governance, it is insulting to Malawians who are being told to tighten their belts, endure tax hikes and accept austerity. This is exactly how waste and abuse of public funds is normalised in plain sight. State house failure to report on maintenance expenses signals a deeply entrenched culture of secrecy and contempt of public accountability,” said Kambwandira
In 2025/2026 Mid-Year Budget Statement, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and
Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamvekha said the State Residences spent the K67 billion allocated in the 2025/2026 financial year and additional K1.5 billion bringing total expenditure to about K69 billion in six months.
During the review, the State Residences were allocated additional K22 billion, bringing the total to K89 billion in the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
In October, pictures circulated widely on social media and other platforms showing serious damage to the State Residences, particularly Kamuzu Palace, preventing President Mutharika from moving in.
The erstwhile ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) however distanced itself from the allegations calling them mere political propaganda.
