Malawi: Rumphi MPs From Four Parties Club Together to Fund Mortuary Repairs After Govt Fails to Act

What the report says

Nyasa Times, in a report distributed by AllAfrica, says four Members of Parliament from Rumphi District in northern Malawi have combined K10.5 million from their Constituency Development Fund allocations to repair the mortuary at Rumphi District Hospital. The report, dated 22 July 2026, says nine of the hospital mortuary’s 12 units had stopped functioning after months of disrepair, creating concern for hospital workers and bereaved families.

The effort is being led by Rumphi Central MP Dr Mathews Mtumbuka, alongside Jappie Mtuwa Mhango of Rumphi North, Florence Shapiro Khimbi of Rumphi East and Adadawiza Jona Mkandawire of Rumphi West. According to the report, the MPs said they intervened after delays in official repairs. Mtumbuka said he had raised the issue in Parliament with Health Minister Madalitso Baloyi and was advised that MPs should use CDF money for the work.

Nyasa Times reported that Mtumbuka criticized the situation, saying critical health infrastructure should not depend on individual lawmakers pushing for action or paying for repairs. The article framed the mortuary breakdown as part of a wider concern about slow responses to essential public service failures.

The cross-party intervention drew support from senior officials cited in the report. Justice Minister Charles Mhango praised the collaboration and pledged K2.5 million, while First Deputy Speaker Victor Musowa encouraged MPs in other areas to consider similar joint efforts where public services are under pressure. The case matters because it highlights questions over how Malawi funds and maintains basic health facilities, and whether temporary, locally driven interventions are filling gaps left by routine government maintenance.