Following bribery charges laid against British businessman Zuneth Sattar in a London court today, UK anti-corruption charity Spotlight on Corruption and Malawian NGO Youth and Society urged authorities in both countries to redouble their efforts to ensure robust accountability for alleged corruption.
Mr Sattar faces 18 charges of bribery following a long-running investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency into an international corruption scandal involving top-ranking officials and politicians in Malawi.
Charles Kajoloweka, Executive Director of Youth and Society, said:
“This marks a historic milestone in Malawi’s fight against grand corruption. Mr. Sattar has long embodied the dangerous collusion between wealth, power, and impunity, allegedly siphoning millions meant for vital public services. We urge the Government of Malawi to revive investigations, protect anti-corruption advocates, and ensure this case leads to bold, homegrown prosecutions. Justice for Malawians cannot be outsourced.”
Helen Taylor, Deputy Director at Spotlight on Corruption, said:
“This prosecution of a British businessman accused of foreign bribery bears out the absolutely vital contribution that the National Crime Agency makes to the global fight against corruption. But the roll call of top-ranking public officials named in this extensive charge sheet speaks to the scale of alleged corruption and exposes the work that remains to be done. This case should spur further action and renewed resolve by both the UK and Malawi to ensure corrupt elites – and those who enable or protect them – are held to account.”
Born in Malawi in 1981, Mr Sattar is accused of paying bribes of up to $50,000 to numerous public officials between December 2020 and September 2021 with the intention of advancing his business interests in the East African country. The court heard today that Mr Sattar and companies associated with him received lucrative public contracts worth $56 million from the Malawian government for the provision of anti-riot gear, food ration packs, and armoured personnel carriers.
Mr Sattar was released on conditional bail, being required to surrender his passport and he remains subject to a travel ban. A family member has agreed to stand surety for £2 million should he fail to appear in court. The case was fixed for a further hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 26 June 2025.
The public officials who allegedly received bribes from Mr Sattar include some of the country’s most senior politicians and officials who were entrusted with decision-making power over public procurement, the police service and defence force, and even the investigation and enforcement of corruption. Those named in the charges are:
- the late Vice President of Malawi, Saulos Chilima
- the president’s former Chief of Staff, Prince Kapondamgaga
- the former Inspector General of Police, George Kainja
- a judge and legal academic who also served as chief of legal services for the Malawian Defence Force, Dan Kuwali
- the former Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Reyneck Matemba
- the former director of Malawi’s public procurement agency, John Suzi Banda
- a police lawyer, Mwabi Kaluba.
Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau has initiated a number of investigations into alleged corruption involving high-level officials in the country, but disappointing setbacks have seen some cases being dropped or discontinued in recent months. Today’s charges call for renewed commitment to ending impunity for corruption and upholding the independence and integrity of anti-corruption investigations in Malawi.
These criminal proceedings are subject to reporting restrictions, including the strict liability rule. Anyone reporting on the case must be satisfied that they meet those requirements.
