Dalitso Kabambe
Dalitso Kabambe | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 17, 1973 Malawi |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, banker, politician |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | 13th Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi (2017–2020), President of United Transformation Movement (from 2024) |
Dalitso Kabambe (born 17 November 1973) is a Malawian economist, banker, and politician who held the position of the 13th Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi from 2017 until 2020. On 17 November 2024, he was chosen as President of the United Transformation Movement.
Career
Kabambe, recognized as a development economist, was appointed as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi on 21 April 2017 by then-President Peter Mutharika. Prior to this appointment, he dedicated 19 years to Malawi’s Government Economic Service beginning in 1998, where he occupied roles such as Principal Economist, Chief Economist, Deputy Director of Economic Planning, and Budget Director within the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development. Between 2013 and 2015, he served as Director of Planning and Policy Development at the Ministry of Health, managing the national health budget. Additionally, he held the position of Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for nearly two years. His tenure as governor concluded on 9 July 2020 when Wilson Banda succeeded him.
Personal life
Kabambe is married to Brigitte Kabambe, and together they have three children. He is also a Church Elder and member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Education
He obtained both a PhD and a master’s degree in Development Economics from Imperial College, University of London in 2008 and 2001 respectively. His undergraduate studies culminated in a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Malawi in 1998.
Joining politics
On 31 December 2020, Kabambe declared his entry into active politics by joining the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi). Media outlets speculated that he aimed to contest for party leadership to become its candidate for the forthcoming 2025 Malawi presidential elections, although he had not officially announced his candidacy. Following the death of UTM president and Malawi's Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima in a plane crash in 2024, Kabambe affiliated himself with the United Transformation Movement (UTM). Subsequently, on 17 November 2024, he was elected as UTM president.
Controversies
Kabambe attracted criticism concerning his monthly remuneration as governor of Malawi’s central bank, reported at K24 million (approximately US$30,000). He acknowledged that this salary was approved by the board under the Reserve Bank of Malawi Act and reflected his years of service. While reports indicated that his successor Wilson Banda’s salary was under review, no media sources have confirmed this. The civil society group Centre for Democracy and Economic Development (CDEDI) condemned the forensic audit that exposed Kabambe’s salary as politically driven and unlawful, alleging it was intended to hinder his ascent to DPP leadership prior to the 2025 elections.
In May 2021, Kabambe’s name surfaced during a Lilongwe Water Board “name and shame” initiative targeting individuals with unauthorized water connections. Despite attempts to vindicate himself, doubts persisted regarding potential approval of an illegal connection, which could impact his presidential ambitions.
In December 2021, allegations emerged accusing Kabambe of manipulating financial records to secure an International Monetary Fund loan while serving as director at the central bank.