Designation of Former Malawi Public Officials for Significant Corruption

The Department of State announced today the public designations of former Solicitor General and Principal Secretary of Justice Reyneck Matemba, former Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Agency Director John Suzi-Banda, former Malawi Police Service Attorney Mwabi Kaluba, and former Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service George Kainja, as generally ineligible for entry into the United States, due to their involvement in significant corruption. Matemba, Suzi-Banda, Kaluba, and Kainja abused their public positions by accepting bribes and other articles of value from a private businessperson in exchange for awarding a government procurement contract for the Malawi Police Service.

The United States stands with Malawians working towards a more just and prosperous nation by promoting accountability for corrupt officials, including advocating for transparency and integrity in government procurement processes.  These designations reaffirm the United States' commitment to counter corruption, which stifles economic growth and development, hinders investment, and erodes trust in government.

These public designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47).  The Department is also designating Matemba's spouse, Rhoda Violet Matemba Maxwell; Suzi-Banda's spouse, Mariana Ismael Suzi-Banda; Kaluba's spouse, Bernadette Mwangosi; and Kainja's spouse, Jacqueline de Silva Kainja, as generally ineligible for entry into the United States.