Former Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba spent last night in a police cell following her arrest at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe earlier yesterday.
Her lawyer Sylvester Ayuba James said she was set to travel to Geneva, Switzerland for her daughter’s graduation when she was detained within the airport’s VIP Lounge before officers from National Police Headquarters picked her for questioning.
She was interrogated for about three hours before being transferred to Kanengo Police Station where she spent the night awaiting formal charging today.
In an interview last evening, Ayuba James said the police were yet to serve his client with formal charges.
He said: “At the moment she is still in police custody. We are yet to be informed about formal charges levelled against her. We are waiting for charge sheet from police so that we can start bail applications.”
However, a police source told The Nation that Zamba was being detained on charges bordering on abuse of office and that the she will likely be presented with formal charges in court today.
During a visit to Kanengo Police Station last evening, The Nation noted tight security, with some officers around the premises. There were also Zamba’s sympathisers and relations.
National Police spokesperson Lael Chimtembo last evening only confirmed the arrest of Zamba, but was coy on charges she is answering, saying the nation will be informed at an appropriate time.
Zamba served as SPC, a designation now changed to Chief Secretary to the Government, under the immediate-past Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration between 2022 and September 2025. She replaced Zanga-Zanga Chikhosi who served as former president Lazarus Chakwera’s first SPC between 2020 and May 2022.
