A contentious private visit by Jane Ansah, identified as a senior official within the Malawian government, to London has sparked significant controversy due to the reported size of her entourage and the trip's overall cost. While her office has disputed the specific details, the row erupted following the circulation of an alleged leaked letter to the Malawi High Commission in London. This letter, reportedly signed by Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chauncy Simwaka, listed 15 individuals expected to accompany Ansah on her journey.

Malawian media outlets have further fueled the controversy by publishing additional alleged details, citing leaked documents that suggest the visit could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Office of the Vice-President has confirmed the trip is taking place but vehemently denies the accuracy of the circulating information regarding the state's expenditure. Richard Mveriwa, the vice-president’s press secretary, released a statement asserting that “These documents did not originate from any government institution and do not reflect official records or approved government expenditures.” He emphasized the office’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public resources, condemning the deliberate spread of what it termed false information.

However, the spokesperson conspicuously omitted any details concerning the number of people making the trip. Reports indicate the delegation includes two accountants, four security personnel, three assistants to the vice-president, and other officials, totaling a substantial group for a supposedly private visit.

The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), a Malawian human rights organization, expressed profound concern over the reported scale of the delegation. The HRDC found it “deeply troubling, particularly given that the trip is explicitly described as private yet appears to be financed using public resources.” This criticism comes against a backdrop of pledges from the Vice-President’s government, which assumed power in October, to manage the economy competently and implement a raft of austerity measures. President Peter Mutharika, who appointed Ansah as his running mate and won the September election, had specifically promised a “return to proven leadership” and vowed prudence, stating his government would not be a “feast” for its members.

Among the announced government spending cutbacks were reductions in both domestic and international travel for senior officials. The HRDC consequently labeled the Vice President’s UK trip, scheduled to commence on December 26, a blatant “double standard” that directly contradicted the government’s own rhetoric on austerity. The organization argued that “While Malawians are continuously urged to tighten their belts, endure hardship and accept reduced public services in the name of fiscal discipline, senior political leaders appear to exempt themselves from these very principles.”