A row over presidential guard dogs has ignited controversy in Malawi after former president Lazarus Chakwera claimed ownership of the animals, relocating them from the Presidential Palace to his personal residence following his electoral defeat, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month.
In September 2025, former Malawi president Lazarus Chakwera lost to progressive-liberal candidate Peter Mutharika, who assumed office in October. Mutharika previously held the East African country’s highest post between 2014 and 2020.
The German Shepherds, valued at $2,300 each, were brought out of the Lilongwe palace over three days, beginning three days after the election and finishing the day before Mutharika’s inauguration on October 5. Furthermore, the report states that the dogs are believed to protect against witchcraft, a cultural belief that adds local significance to the dispute.
In November, police arrested Chakwera’s State House deputy chief of staff, Godfrey Jalale, on suspicion of involvement in the affair. Police documents state that Jalale admitted to using a government vehicle to move the dogs to Chakwera’s home, although he denies wrongdoing.
After taking office, President Mutharika ordered police to retrieve the dogs, arguing that they were part of the state security team. Still, the former president refused to allow officers to enter, and the Lilongwe Magistrate Court barred police from executing a warrant for the residence due to a misidentification of the dogs’ breed.
Police later applied for a new warrant, requiring visual confirmation of the dogs, and locals report officers surveilling Chakwera’s residence at night
Supporters of both sides have taken to the internet to share their views on the dog situation, many of whom see this debacle as one facet of the national debate over internal corruption.
Malawi receives low corruption score
Transparency International, which scores countries from 0 (“highly corrupt”) to 100 (“very clean”), gave Malawi a score of 34 in 2024, ranking 107th out of 180 countries ranked.
While the dispute over state-owned guard dogs may appear minor, it underscores the challenges of governance and accountability in a country where presidential corruption allegations are common.