DoDMA Begging, But Where are the Expenduture Reports?

New repatriation appeal revives long-standing questions over accountability in Malawi’s disaster funding

As Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) once again appeals for financial and logistical support to repatriate Malawians stranded in South Africa, a familiar question is returning to the centre of public debate: where are the expenditure reports from previous disaster responses?

The latest appeal follows the lean season emergency programme, during which government and the private sector mobilised over MK1.8 billion in cash and in-kind contributions.

Among the major contributors were NICO Group and NBS Bank (MK400 million), Petroleum Importers Limited (MK400 million in fuel support), National Bank of Malawi (MK300 million), Airtel Malawi (MK300 million), First Capital Bank (MK210 million), and Nyasa Tobacco Manufacturing Company (MK125 million), among others.

National Bank donated Mk300 million towards food relief. (File photo)

NBS Bank and Nico donated Mk 400 million. (File photo)

While these donations were widely announced and acknowledged at the time, there is still no publicly accessible consolidated expenditure report showing how the funds were spent.

Concerns over transparency are not new. In recent years, DoDMA has coordinated responses to several major crises, including Cyclone Freddy, Cyclone Ana, the COVID-19 pandemic, and recurring flood and food insecurity emergencies.

Each of these events involved large-scale mobilisation of funds and resources from government, development partners, private companies and the general public.

However, across these successive emergencies, there has been no single publicly available expenditure report that clearly outlines how disaster funds were utilised from receipt to final disbursement.

If Malawi repeatedly mobilises support from the same donors during national emergencies, why is there limited visibility on how previous contributions were spent?

For some financial institutions and corporate donors, the concern is no longer about willingness to assist, but about accountability and transparency.

A senior banking sector official, speaking on condition of anonymity, summed up the emerging sentiment:

“The challenge is not whether we should help. The question is always how was the last support managed?”

That question points to a structural issue that has shadowed Malawi’s disaster response system for years.

DoDMA continues to play a central role in coordinating disaster response and mobilising emergency resources. Donation lists are often made public at the point of contribution, and appeals are widely communicated.

Dodma Donation List.

Dodma Donation List.

However, expenditure reporting remains fragmented within broader government financial systems, making it difficult for donors and the public to track disaster-specific spending in detail.

This has led to growing calls for a dedicated disaster fund reporting framework that provides clear tracking of donations, transparent expenditure reporting, and independent audits for each major emergency response.

Malawi’s disaster response system has demonstrated strong capacity to mobilise resources during times of crisis, from COVID-19 to Cyclone Freddy and beyond.

But as new emergency appeals continue to emerge, one question remains unanswered in the public domain:

Until that question is addressed transparently, concerns over accountability and donor confidence are likely to persist.