In a gripping courtroom showdown that felt more like a political thriller than a routine legal matter, Malawi’s Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda once again proved why he’s become the country’s most formidable legal watchdog — and perhaps its most unlikely folk hero. On Thursday, Nyirenda unleashed a masterclass of legal skill and patriotic resolve in the High Court in Lilongwe, cornering controversial arms supplier Shiraz Ferreira into admitting that the Malawi Government was overcharged by a staggering $1.4 million on a defence contract.
Ferreira — owner of SF International and no stranger to high-stakes government deals — was left stammering as Nyirenda coolly walked him through the numbers, calculator in hand. Under pressure, Ferreira folded, blaming the mess on his accountant. But that weak defense crumbled further when it was revealed that the very same accountant, James Lindani of Simeon & Mathews Advisory Services, had already testified to a jaw-dropping overpayment of $2.4 million.
Nyirenda, unwavering and meticulous, declared the actual figure to be even higher: a damning $3.8 million in taxpayer money allegedly handed over for undelivered military equipment. And the twist? Ferreira’s company, according to his own admission, pocketed $7 million in advance under the DPP administration — before delivering a single bolt or bullet. That admission alone sent tremors through the courtroom and beyond, reviving haunting questions about just how deep Malawi’s corruption wounds go.
But Nyirenda wasn’t done. With the precision of a seasoned litigator and the spirit of a public servant on a mission, he demanded answers on how Ferreira got his hands on confidential legal documents — including internal memos between the AG’s office, the Treasury, and the Defence Force. Ferreira’s response? A flimsy, “I believed the documents would help my case.”
The Malawi Government, under Nyirenda’s legal leadership, has now filed a counterclaim to block SF International’s $6.9 million interest demand — a bold legal counterpunch aimed at protecting public funds and reinforcing the rule of law.
With Justice Dr. Chifundo Kachale presiding, the courtroom saga continues tomorrow. But one thing is already clear: Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda isn’t just representing the government — he’s fighting for Malawi itself. And in a country too often let down by mediocrity and silence, that might just be the kind of legal reckoning Malawians didn’t know they needed.
