A Malawian court has dropped corruption charges against Vice-President Saulos Chilima after the state prosecutor filed a notice for the case to be discontinued. No reasons were given for the decision. Dr Chilima was arrested in November 2022 on allegations that he accepted money in exchange for awarding government contracts. He denied the charges.

Government officials say the move is constitutional, but critics view it as a clear example of selective justice favoring the elite

A court in Malawi has dropped corruption charges against the country's Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima, clearing a legal hurdle over his potential candidacy in next year's presidential election.

Chilima's lawyer, Khumbo Soko, said his team was relieved that the criminal charges against the vice president had been dropped. In a notice seen by Reuters, Judge Redson Kapindu said the decision to drop the charges was after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed a notice for the case to be discontinued.