Malawi first lady’s charity faces transparency questions after multimillion-rand donations

A charity chaired by Malawi’s first lady, Gertrude Mutharika, has accepted multimillion-dollar pledges from two men facing serious legal scrutiny in South Africa, amid questions over its governance and regulatory compliance. It has done so without providing publicly available audited accounts or confirmed proof of registration under Malawi’s updated non-profit regulatory framework. The Beautify Malawi Trust, led by Mutharika, held a relaunch ceremony at Kamuzu Palace, the presidential residence in Lilongwe, in February, attended by President Peter Mutharika and senior government and ruling party officials. Within three months, the trust had received a $1 million (about R16m) pledge from Zimbabwean businessperson Wicknell Chivayo and a 300 million kwacha (about R3m) donation from Malawian-born preacher Shepherd Bushiri and his wife. Both men are subject to legal and financial scrutiny in South Africa. Neither donation has been accompanied by public disclosure of how the trust manages or accounts for the funds it receives. The trust’s governance gaps are not new. In 2014, an unauthorised transfer of public health funds to the organisation contributed to Malawi losing its status as principal recipient of a $574m grant from the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, with documented consequences for HIV and TB service delivery. The pattern has re-emerged at a particularly sensitive moment. Malawi’s public debt stood at about 90.9% of GDP at the end of 2025. The World Bank has classified the country as being in debt distress and an International Monetary Fund programme collapsed in May that year. The governance conduct of institutions linked to the presidency carries direct weight with the international partners on whom Malawi depends for financial support. The Beautify Malawi Trust first appeared during President Mutharika’s earlier term in office, presenting itself as a citizen-driven initiative to promote public hygiene and environmental care. Official st