Lilongwe — The new dawn leadership of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government of President Arthur Peter Mutharika has wasted no time showing Malawians where it stands: with its own people first.
In a memo that has frustrated the Malawian youth, the Office of the President and Cabinet — under Chief Secretary Dr. Justin Adack Saidi — has issued a sweeping directive titled “Expenditure Control Measures,” dated 6th November 2025.
The document reads like a cost-saving manual. But between the lines lies something more sinister — a strategy to lock out ordinary Malawians from government employment while selectively opening doors for the politically loyal and the tribally connected.
The circular suspends all recruitments, including non-established posts, until further notice. Promotions, travel, and even procurement have been tightly ring-fenced, with all decisions now requiring high-level clearance — conveniently placing the final say in the hands of those closest to Mutharika’s political kitchen.
“They are calling it expenditure control, but it’s actually people control,” said one frustrated ministry insider. “Only those from their inner circles will be considered under these so-called ‘special cases.’”
In a country battling record youth unemployment and a crumbling economy, the message could not be more chilling: no jobs, no hope — unless you belong to Mlakho or you are connected to the regime.
While the memo preaches fiscal restraint, the DPP’s critics see a familiar script — austerity for the poor, opportunity for the connected. The last time Mutharika held power, the public service was accused of being a tribal hiring field dominated by southern loyalists. Now, history seems to be repeating itself, only this time wrapped in the polite language of “budget discipline.”
Economists warn the freeze will worsen the job crisis, but politically, the timing is too perfect to ignore. By restricting open recruitment, the administration secures room to reward loyalists under the “essential services” clause — a loophole wide enough to drive a convoy of blue-branded patronage through.
“They call it fiscal prudence,” remarked a Blantyre-based analyst. “But it’s really a gatekeeping tool — austerity as an instrument of loyalty.”
The memo also imposes limits on foreign travel, vehicle procurement, and embassy staff. Yet, the political class remains untouched, cushioned by privilege and power while the unemployed masses are told to “tighten their belts.”
So here we are again — a Habemus Government, resurrected under Peter Mutharika’s familiar hand. The slogans may have changed, but the script hasn’t: austerity for the nation, prosperity for the chosen few.
