Is Malawi’s Accounting Profession Fuelling or Fixing the Corruption Crisis?

Corruption in Malawi is no secret. It has been a stubborn stain on the country’s reputation for decades. From Cashgate to shady procurement deals, financial misconduct has crippled growth, eroded trust, and held back real development. But here is the uncomfortable question we rarely ask:
Are accountants’ part of the solution, or part of the problem?

The Silent Enablers
Accountants sit in some of the most powerful seats in Malawi, in both government and business. We are trusted to protect internal controls, safeguard assets, and make sure the rules are followed. Yet, scandal after scandal has unfolded right under our watch. Some of the names involved? Respected, qualified professionals. Why the silence?

Sometimes it is fear. Sometimes it is compromised independence. Sometimes it is just getting used to bad behaviour being “how things work.” And when whistleblowers get sidelined instead of supported, the message is clear: Stay quiet or pay the price.

Are Our Professional Bodies Doing Enough?
ICAM and other regulators have introduced ethics codes, CPDs, and disciplinary rules. On paper, it sounds good. But in reality, how many accountants caught in scandals have faced real, public consequences? License revocations? Disciplinary hearings?
Most cases fade quietly into the background. Without strong, visible action, how can the public trust the profession?

It is Not Just a Government Problem
We love blaming the public sector for corruption. But let us be honest, the private sector is not clean either.
Behind closed doors, some accountants help cook the books, grease the right palms, or quietly dodge taxes. This double life, preaching ethics in conference rooms and breaking them in boardrooms, is killing the credibility of the whole profession.

Is It a Broken Moral Compass or Systemic Pressure?
Yes, individual choices matter. But the system matters too.
Low pay. No real protection for whistleblowers. Cultures of fear.
It is hard to stand tall when the system rewards silence and punishes integrity.
But here is the thing, we are supposed to be different.
We are trusted with the keys to financial integrity. That means the burden is heavier on us. Excuses do not cut it anymore.

We Need the Courage to Disrupt
Malawi needs accountants who are not afraid to break the cycle, even when it costs them.
Accountants who see themselves not just as record-keepers, but as watchdogs.
People who are willing to say, “Not on my watch,” even if it is uncomfortable.
And professional bodies need to step up too, not just reacting when scandals blow up, but enforcing ethics every day and making examples when necessary. Malawi’s future depends on rebuilding trust in our institutions.

It is time to ask ourselves:
Are we guarding the vault or leaving the door wide open?