Frank Mbeta
Frank Farouk Mbeta | |
|---|---|
| Attorney General of Malawi | |
| Assumed office 27 October 2025 | |
| President | Peter Mutharika |
| Preceded by | Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Democratic Progressive Party |
| Education | University of Malawi |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Frank Farouk Mbeta is a Malawian lawyer who was appointed Attorney General of the Republic of Malawi in October 2025. He has also represented clients in several high-profile cases.
Career
Mbeta was one of the lead lawyers representing President Peter Mutharika during the 2019 presidential election case before the Constitutional Court.[1]
He has handled commercial and constitutional litigation in his private practice in Blantyre.[2][3]
In October 2025, he was appointed as the 21st Attorney General of the Republic of Malawi.[4]
Legal issues and controversies
In October 2020, the Anti‑Corruption Bureau announced it planned to prosecute Mbeta for alleged bribery dating to 2015, accusing him of offering 2 million Kwacha to an MRA ICT manager to delete files.[5] He has also been linked by media reports to allegations of judge-shopping and improper influence in commercial disputes.[6] Local media also reported that he withdrew from defending foreign minister George Chaponda in a corruption-related case in 2017 under uncertain circumstances.[7] However, no actual conviction was made.[8]
In February 2026, lawyer Alexious Kamangila alleged that Malawi’s anti-corruption efforts could not succeed while Mbeta served as Attorney General.[9] Few days later, activist Sylvester Namiwa also called on Mbeta to resign from his position following corruption allegations. Namiwa made the remarks during a media briefing, after writing to the Office of the Attorney General raising similar concerns.[10]
In March 2026, Mbeta was implicated in controversy surrounding the purchase of the Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre using public pension funds. He was scheduled to appear before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee investigating the transaction but asked to be excused due to other commitments, prompting the committee to order that he be summoned to appear at a later date.[11] He later declined to appear before the committee again, stating in a communication to Parliament that proper legal procedures had not been followed in summoning him.[12] Mbeta said he remained willing to testify but requested that he be scheduled as the final witness and be given seven day's notice before appearing.[13]
References
- ^ "Mutharika's lawyer Mbeta hopes Constitution Court will discontinue election case". 19 June 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "Lawyer Frank Mbeta's success displeases others as Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda falls victim". The Maravi Post. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ Kasalika, Johnny (14 May 2024). "Thin plastics legal obstacle removed". Nation Online. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ Kalumpha, Aubrey (28 October 2025). "Mutharika appoints Attorney, Press Secretary". Malawi Institute of Journalism. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "ACB to prosecute lawyer Mbeta on alleged bribery charges". 7 November 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ Reporter, Nyasa Times (14 April 2016). "Lawyer Mbeta, Judge Kenyatta implicated in scam: Sheriffs close down AHCX over K2 bn debt - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ Reporter, Nyasa Times (16 November 2017). "Lawyer Mbeta discharges himself in Chaponda corruption-related charges - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ Reporter, Nyasa Times (27 April 2015). "Lawyer faults ACB boss for 'flirting' with Chief Justice in K2m probe - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "Kamangila warns Malawi cannot fight corruption with Frank Mbeta as Attorney General". Malawi 24. 14 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ "Namiwa tells AG Frank Mbeta to step down on corruption allegations". Malawi Voice. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "AG Mbeta dodges Parley on Amaryllis Hotel purchase probe". The Maravi Post. 16 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "AG Mbeta Snubs PAC Again Over Amaryllis Hotel Deal". Malawi Freedom Network. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Amaryllis Scandal: 'It Is My Duty to Appear before parliamentary committee ' — AG Mbeta Reaffirms Commitment to PAC". Malawi 24. 18 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.