Part 1: The K457 Billion Deal
…SPC Zamba’s Text Message to East Bridge Director Revealed
…East Bridge Facing Insolvency Over US$17 Million Debt
By Raphael Phiri | Bucharest, Romania
A private message from Colleen Zamba, Malawi’s Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC), instructing the Secretary for Agriculture, Medrina Muloza Banda, to convene an Internal Procurement and Disposal of Assets Committee (IPDC) meeting in an attempt to cover up a query raised by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA), is among dozens of leaked texts shared by East Bridge Director Hiam Tzustivili. The messages, originally sent to Tzustivili by Muloza Banda, were forwarded to his associates and have now been made available to The Investigator Magazine.
In September 2024, The Investigator Magazine exposed how fuel and fertilizer contracts valued at approximately K1.5 trillion were fraudulently awarded to a fake entity allegedly associated with the “Office of Sheikh Ahmed Al Qassimi” of Dubai. Upon investigation, representatives from the real office firmly denied any involvement in Malawian deals.
In an attempt to manage the fallout, SPC Zamba’s office released a fabricated press statement. However, it quickly fell apart after Malawians noticed discrepancies, including a non-official government logo. Muloza Banda and Tzustivili had strong opinions about this failed attempt.
In one message, the East Bridge Director (EBD) shared The Investigator’s exposé, saying:
“She (Zamba) needs to be ashamed. This was her game with all her OPC staff.”
To which the PS for Agriculture replied:
“With some Politicians.”
The Investigator Magazine has identified two Cabinet Members potentially implicated in the scheme to defraud taxpayers. Their names will be disclosed in Part 4 of this investigative series.
In subsequent exchanges, PS Banda revealed that SPC Zamba had asked her to seek a “no-objection” from government authorities regarding a Government-to-Government Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). She informed EBD:
“The time you gave up.”
Adding,
“That was when we knew that they were planning this long time ago.”
EBD responded:
“I never gave up.”
Further messages reveal that Banda had been feeding confidential information to East Bridge Estates SRL—an unethical act that may have given the company an unfair edge in bidding for public contracts.
She texted:
“But you remember I tipped you that they must be working on a project together with … (Minister mentioned) and … (Minister mentioned).”
In one of the most damning revelations, Banda claimed she was coerced—possibly by SPC Zamba and the unnamed Cabinet Ministers—into signing the K1.5 trillion deal:
“And the way they pushed me to sign, requesting PPDA. But PPDA refused so they don’t have a contract up to now. Not even Cabinet approval. Let me show you.”
Banda then forwarded Zamba’s message, identifying her as “Big Mama CZ” in her phone. In the forwarded communication, PPDA had rejected the waiver request due to the absence of IPDC meeting minutes, a legal prerequisite.
PS Banda wrote:
“Received communication from PPDA requesting IPDC minutes…. Paja ya His Highness siyinadzere ku IPDC.. titani.”
Zamba replied:
“Urgently meet by the end of today… Hello mwadzusowetsatu. Kindly do this soonest nthawi Yanira. Performance will be based on these kuti we had offers to support HE but we refused to move.”
Despite the seriousness of the leaks, Capital Hill officials noted that Zamba and Banda are close allies, speculating that Zamba might survive the scandal despite her reckless disclosure of state secrets.
The Revolut Visa Account and PS Banda’s Cozy Relationship with East Bridge
Our sources confirm that PS Medrina Muloza Banda traveled to Dubai on September 10–11, 2024. Leaked text messages show that she used a Revolut Visa card provided by East Bridge Director Hiam Tzustivili—an arrangement that suggests a conflict of interest, as she was directly handling government dealings with the company.
The exchange began with EBD messaging her:
“Don’t do anything before we speak.”
They had a 7-minute phone conversation and exchanged a story from Times 360 on a Civil Society briefing about fertilizer supply. After another short call, Tzustivili texted:
“Hello babe. Have you left to Dubai? Babe, you can use 2.5k (almost K5 million) per day with that card.”
Screenshots show the Visa card—ending in 4504—was used at Dubai Duty Free. Transactions included 8,414.18 lei and 3,236.22 lei.
Before departing, Banda had texted:
“Good morning Haim. I will be leaving here this afternoon to Dubai. Will meet with government team there and depart together to Malawi. I will call when awake.”
Tzustivili replied:
“Good morning babe. Hope you recovered well. Looking forward to your call!”
She later sent him a document on SFFRFM letterhead, partially titled “Settlement Arrangement Regard..”
Tzustivili followed up:
“Babe, pls call me back when you can.”
“How are you? I went to bed very early yesterday night.”
When his call went unanswered, Banda texted:
“Sorry, I can’t talk right now.”
EBD:
“Can you talk?”
PSA:
“Sure, give me a few minutes.”
EBD:
“Okey babe, thank you.”
After a 16-minute call, Banda texted:
“Haim, can I use a 1000 dollars just for my upkeep?”
There were more missed calls before PSA wrote:
“Babie”
EBD responded:
“I will send you a text once you can use the card. It’s been blocked for a long time and this is the reason it takes longer. It will be sorted soon.”
PSA replied:
“Well noted babe.”
Then, a startling plea from Banda followed:
“Haim, please don’t implicate me with what we talked!! Please, please. Please. Don’t send what we talked to anyone. Please, please.”
She further begged:
“Hiam, delete our conversation now.”
Despite her request, Tzustivili gleefully shared the messages with his friends and business associates in Romania, where The Investigator Magazine is currently stationed to investigate further.
Sources indicate the Visa card had also been used in India and Dubai by the PS.
East Bridge Facing Insolvency
We have uncovered that an insolvency case was filed in Romania against East Bridge Estates SRL on November 14, 2023—a full year before Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture and SFFRFM began making payments through letters of credit.
According to documents from former East Bridge associates, the Ministry was already aware of the company’s insolvency when it signed a side letter on May 21, 2024, committing Malawi to a fertilizer deal—despite the fact that not a single grain of fertilizer had been delivered.
The documents also allege that legal teams from the Ministry and SFFRFM are actively working to protect the deal.
Blackmail and Breach of Confidentiality?
Sources in Romania allege that the confidential government information shared by Banda gave East Bridge an unfair advantage in securing public contracts.
“The interactions between the two raise serious concerns about conflict of interest, abuse of office, and betrayal of public trust,” one source stated.
It is further claimed that East Bridge Director Tzustivili habitually records conversations with Malawian government officials and takes screenshots of private messages—using them as leverage.
The Investigator Magazine will continue to publish more of these conversations and alleged bribes paid to various officials.
Sources also claim that Mr. Tzustivili had previously been arrested in Malawi in a separate incident.
Coming Next: How the Ministry of Agriculture committed Malawi to a fertilizer deal with a company that didn’t supply a single grain of fertilizer.
