Uladi Mussa, a former minister for Homeland Security, jailed in 2020 for corruption, has been pardoned by Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera alongside dozens of others as part of the annual amnesty programme for prisoners during Easter celebrations.

However, many Malawians have criticised the Malawian president’s decision to pardon the former minister who, due to corruption charges, has been barred by the American government from entering the U.S. since 2019.

Some argued that the amnesty given to Mr Mussa would undermine the government’s commitment to fighting corruption in Malawi. 

Michael Kaiyatsa, the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation executive director, said, “The law allows the president to grant pardons on minor offences. But this is a very serious offence — corruption. So, it sends wrong signals that the administration is not as committed as it seems. Also, considering the fact that he is a politician, there has been a perception that politicians always back each other, and this confirms that.”

Others pardoned included Mussa Jones Tewesa, a driver for the Malawi Electoral Commission, alongside 198 other prisoners, according to a government statement.

Mr Tewesa was serving a 15-month prison sentence for obstructing a presidential convoy. An 18-year-old boy John Mussa (not related to the former minister), who was earlier sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for marijuana possession, was also pardoned.