‘Wholly Fabricated’: Malawi Government Denies Secret Ambassador Deal for Controversial SA Tycoon Moti

LILONGWE — The Malawi government has strongly denied claims that South African businessman Zunaid Moti was secretly appointed to a diplomatic post or received preferential treatment from the state, including mining licences, describing the allegations as “entirely false, malicious and deliberately designed to mislead the public.”

In a statement issued on 14 July 2026, the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) said it had noted “with grave concern a series of false and misleading social media posts” alleging that Moti had been appointed to a diplomatic position and benefited from government favours.

Chief Secretary Dr Justin Adack K. Saidi dismissed the claims outright.

“Mr Moti has not been appointed to any Government position, diplomatic or otherwise. Neither has the Government awarded him any form of preferential treatment. Any suggestion to the contrary is wholly fabricated and without any factual basis,” Saidi said in the statement.

The government’s response follows days of growing speculation after documents, first published by Nyasa Times and widely circulated on social media, purported to show that Moti had been appointed Malawi’s Ambassador-at-Large for a five-year term under President Arthur Peter Mutharika.

According to the leaked documents, Moti would have been tasked with promoting Malawi’s interests internationally, mobilising investment for strategic sectors including mining, petroleum and road infrastructure, attracting tourism, strengthening healthcare partnerships and helping secure resources for national development.

The reports also alleged that Moti had been awarded ten mining licences, prompting widespread questions about his relationship with the government and whether he had received preferential treatment.

Links to First Lady’s charity remain under scrutiny

Moti has already been at the centre of public debate in Malawi because of his association with First Lady Gertrude Mutharika’s Beautify Malawi (BEAM) Trust.

He previously came under scrutiny after reports alleged he donated about MK4 billion (approximately £1.7 million) to the charity, prompting anti-corruption groups to demand greater transparency over the source of the funds.

He has also been linked to President Mutharika’s inner circle through reports that he chartered private aircraft for some of the President’s personal trips to South Africa.

Governance watchdog CDEDI has since called for a forensic audit of BEAM Trust’s finances, adding to public interest in Moti’s business dealings in Malawi.

Neither State House nor Moti publicly responded when the leaked diplomatic appointment documents first surfaced, allowing speculation to grow before the OPC issued Tuesday’s statement.

The OPC also used its statement to reject claims that Moti had received mining licences, revealing that the government has maintained a moratorium on issuing new mineral licences since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) returned to office.

According to the government, the freeze was introduced to clean up Malawi’s mineral cadastre system and conduct a compliance audit of existing licence holders.

“Nobody has been issued with a new licence as portrayed by the false story, and no new licences can be seen in the system,” the statement said.

The government argued that the moratorium itself disproves claims that Moti had been granted mining rights.

Claims described as attack on government

Beyond denying the allegations, the OPC portrayed the reports as part of a broader attempt to damage the credibility of President Mutharika’s administration.

The statement described the allegations as “entirely false, malicious and deliberately designed to mislead the public, tarnish the image of the Government, and undermine confidence in the administration of His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, particularly its unwavering commitment to integrity, transparency and the fight against corruption.”

The government also warned that deliberately spreading false information could amount to a criminal offence under Malawian law.

It urged citizens to verify information before sharing it online and to use social media responsibly.

The statement concluded by saying the administration remained focused on rebuilding the economy, restoring public confidence and implementing reforms, adding that misinformation and political attacks only distracted from national development.

While the government’s denial is unequivocal, several key issues remain unresolved.

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The OPC did not specifically address the authenticity or origin of the leaked Ambassador-at-Large appointment document, nor did it explain how the document came into circulation.

Similarly, the statement did not address ongoing questions surrounding the alleged BEAM Trust donation or calls for a forensic audit of the charity’s finances, matters that remain separate from the diplomatic appointment controversy.

As of publication, neither Moti nor State House had issued an independent public response addressing the leaked appointment letter.

The controversy is expected to keep attention focused on the Mutharika administration’s relationship with foreign businessmen and the transparency of Malawi’s mining sector, an issue that continues to attract scrutiny across the Southern African region.