Dalena Reporters l December 25, 2025
The Government of Malawi has officially confirmed that Vice‑President Jane Mayemu Ansah will embark on a two‑week private visit to the United Kingdom beginning December 26, 2025, with a five‑member delegation at a cost of MK168,028,400 (approximately $97,000) to taxpayers, despite the nation’s ongoing economic crisis and state‑imposed austerity measures, government spokesperson Dr. Shadric Namalomba said in a statement issued from Lilongwe.
According to the clarification, the original cost of the trip was higher at MK294,719,200 before being reduced “to align with fiscal principles” announced by President Peter Mutharika’s administration in October as part of broader austerity policies designed to curb public spending. The approved budget covers international air travel and travel allowances for the small delegation, the statement added, emphasizing what authorities describe as responsible use of public resources.
Details confirming that the trip is private and listing no official meetings have intensified public scrutiny and political backlash, as critics argue that funding such a visit during severe economic hardship contradicts the government’s austerity rhetoric and raises questions about priorities in public expenditure.
The confirmation also emerged amid earlier circulation on social media of purported documents suggesting that the Vice‑President’s UK visit would cost up to K2.3 billion (about $1.3 million), a figure the Office of the Vice President has repeatedly dismissed as “fake and misleading,” fueling public outrage and debate over transparency in the use of state resources.
Civil society groups and citizens have criticised the timing of the trip, especially given Malawi’s economic difficulties, including inflation and currency pressures, contending that funds allocated to the visit could instead be directed toward urgent domestic needs.