Financial Scandal Rocks MBC as MK1.7 Billion Vanishes in 30-Day Election Spending Spree

The Board Chairperson, Dr Benson Tembo of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has broken its silence following a Khulubvi Post investigation that uncovered the depletion of nearly MK1.8 billion in public funds over a single month.

Confirming that a forensic audit is “imminent,” the Board Chairperson described the oversight body as “grossly concerned” by the documented evidence of systemic fraud. “We will wait till forensic audit is conducted in order to establish the truth of the matter, right now let me not comment on it,” the Chair.

Leaked FDH Bank records for the broadcaster’s Business Current Account (No. 1040000116896) show that between September 1 and October 3, 2025—the height of the national election cycle—the corporation’s coffers were bled of exactly MK 1,794,976,694.43.

While the country was focused on the polls, senior management at MBC allegedly authorized a flurry of irregular payments and massive cash withdrawals. Our analysis indicates that only roughly 13% of this total (MK 237.8 million) appears to be for legitimate operational expenses.

The investigation points to a centralized group of controlling officers and managers who oversaw the suspicious transactions and these are George Kasakula (Outgoing Director General),  Jack Kamwachale Khomba (Former Director of Finance), Monica Likoswe Mlungama (Financial Controller), Hastings Manda (Procurement Manager).

Evidence further suggests that Teresa Sungani (Commercial Services) and Aidan Gumeni (Engineering) may have also benefited from the irregular schemes. Insiders have categorized several payments as “unjustifiable” and “technically nonsensical” such as the MK14 Million Laptop: On September 12, at the instruction of the Commercial Department, MBC paid MK 69.1 million for five laptops. Despite a unit price of nearly MK14 million, employees who handled the devices described them as “ordinary, standard hardware.”

“Agent Fee” Reversal were transacted on September 1, the corporation paid MK 91.3 million in “Agent Fees.” Experts note this is a major red flag, as media houses receive commissions from agencies; they do not pay them out.

As regards, the Stationery Hyper-Inflation, in a 48-hour window (Oct 2–3), MBC spent a staggering MK 109.7 million on basic stationery supplies. On Gaming Hardware, it is on record that on September 11, MK 41.5 million was spent on a high-end “Gaming Computer,” a purchase for which technical staff could find no professional justification.

Perhaps the most egregious example of personal enrichment involves outgoing DG George Kasakula. While the nation awaited election results, bank statements show MBC paid MK 6.5 million for Kasakula’s week-long stay in a Presidential Suite at Umodzi Park.

Sources within the Finance Department allege that while the hotel bill was settled directly by the taxpayer, Kasakula was simultaneously issued full cash per diems. This “double-dipping” is a direct violation of Malawi Government financial regulations, which strictly prohibit claiming out-of-pocket allowances when accommodation is provided.

The National Audit Office and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) are now under mounting pressure to launch immediate probes. While the named officials have remained silent, the Board’s commitment to a forensic audit suggests that the era of impunity at the state broadcaster may be reaching an end.