{{Short description|Attorney General of Malawi}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Honourable | name = Frank Farouk Mbeta | office = Attorney General of Malawi | term_start = 27 October 2025 | term_end = <!-- insert date if known, or leave blank if incumbent --> | president = Peter Mutharika | predecessor = Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda | successor = <!-- insert successor if known or leave blank if incumbent --> | profession = Lawyer | education = University of Malawi | party = Democratic Progressive Party }} '''Frank Farouk Mbeta''' is a Malawian lawyer who was appointed Attorney General of the Republic of Malawi in October 2025. He has also represented clients in several high-profile cases.
== Career == Mbeta was one of the lead lawyers representing President Peter Mutharika during the 2019 presidential election case before the Constitutional Court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-19 |title=Mutharika’s lawyer Mbeta hopes Constitution Court will discontinue election case |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/mutharikas-lawyer-mbeta-hopes-constitution-court-will-discontinue-election-case/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
He has handled commercial and constitutional litigation in his private practice in Blantyre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-15 |title=Lawyer Frank Mbeta’s success displeases others as Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda falls victim |url=https://www.maravipost.com/lawyer-frank-mbetas-success-displeases-others-as-judge-kenyatta-nyirenda-falls-victim/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=The Maravi Post |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kasalika |first=Johnny |date=2024-05-14 |title=Thin plastics legal obstacle removed |url=https://mwnation.com/thin-plastics-legal-obstacle-removed/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Nation Online |language=en-US}}</ref>
In October 2025, he was appointed as the 21st Attorney General of the Republic of Malawi.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalumpha |first=Aubrey |date=2025-10-28 |title=Mutharika appoints Attorney, Press Secretary |url=https://news.mijmw.com/mutharika-appoints-attorney-press-secretary/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=Malawi Institute of Journalism |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Legal issues and controversies == In October 2020, the Anti‑Corruption Bureau announced it planned to prosecute Mbeta for alleged bribery dating to 2015, accusing him of offering 2 million Kwacha to an MRA ICT manager to delete files.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-07 |title=ACB to prosecute lawyer Mbeta on alleged bribery charges |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/acb-to-prosecute-lawyer-mbeta-on-alleged-bribery-charges/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |language=en-GB}}</ref> He has also been linked by media reports to allegations of judge-shopping and improper influence in commercial disputes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Nyasa Times |date=2016-04-14 |title=Lawyer Mbeta, Judge Kenyatta implicated in scam: Sheriffs close down AHCX over K2 bn debt - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/lawyer-mbeta-judge-kenyatta-implicated-in-scam-sheriffs-close-down-ahcx-over-k2-bn-debt/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Local media also reported that he withdrew from defending foreign minister George Chaponda in a corruption-related case in 2017 under uncertain circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Nyasa Times |date=2017-11-16 |title=Lawyer Mbeta discharges himself in Chaponda corruption-related charges - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/lawyer-mbeta-discharges-chaponda-corruption-related-charges/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |language=en-GB}}</ref> However, no actual conviction was made.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Nyasa Times |date=2015-04-27 |title=Lawyer faults ACB boss for ‘flirting’ with Chief Justice in K2m probe - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi |url=https://www.nyasatimes.com/lawyer-faults-acb-boss-for-flirting-with-chief-justice-in-k2m-probe/ |access-date=2025-10-28 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In February 2026, lawyer Alexious Kamangila alleged that Malawi’s anti-corruption efforts could not succeed while Mbeta served as Attorney General.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-14 |title=Kamangila warns Malawi cannot fight corruption with Frank Mbeta as Attorney General |url=https://malawi24.com/2026/02/14/kamangila-warns-malawi-cannot-fight-corruption-with-frank-mbeta-as-attorney-general/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Few days later, activist Sylvester Namiwa also called on Mbeta to resign from his position following corruption allegations. Namiwa made the remarks during a media briefing, after writing to the Office of the Attorney General raising similar concerns.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-18 |title=Namiwa tells AG Frank Mbeta to step down on corruption allegations |url=https://www.malawivoice.com/2026/02/18/namiwa-tells-ag-frank-mbeta-to-step-down-on-corruption-allegations/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Malawi Voice |language=en-US}}</ref>
In March 2026, Mbeta was implicated in controversy surrounding the purchase of the Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre using public pension funds. He was scheduled to appear before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee investigating the transaction but asked to be excused due to other commitments, prompting the committee to order that he be summoned to appear at a later date.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-16 |title=AG Mbeta dodges Parley on Amaryllis Hotel purchase probe |url=https://www.maravipost.com/ag-mbeta-dodges-parley-on-amaryllis-hotel-purchase-probe/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=The Maravi Post |language=en-US}}</ref> He later declined to appear before the committee again, stating in a communication to Parliament that proper legal procedures had not been followed in summoning him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-19 |title=AG Mbeta Snubs PAC Again Over Amaryllis Hotel Deal |url=https://malawifreedomnetwork.com/2026/03/19/ag-mbeta-snubs-pac-again-over-amaryllis-hotel-deal/ |access-date=2026-03-19 |website=Malawi Freedom Network |language=en-US}}</ref> Mbeta said he remained willing to testify but requested that he be scheduled as the final witness and be given seven day's notice before appearing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-18 |title=Amaryllis Scandal: ‘It Is My Duty to Appear before parliamentary committee ’ — AG Mbeta Reaffirms Commitment to PAC |url=https://malawi24.com/2026/03/19/amaryllis-scandal-it-is-my-duty-to-appear-before-parliamentary-committee-ag-mbeta-reaffirms-commitment-to-pac/ |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-GB}}</ref> On 25 March, Mbeta appeared before the committee, where he denied involvement in the deal and said his role had been limited to legal advice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Munthali |first=Burnett |date=2026-03-25 |title=Mbeta denies involvement in Amaryllis Hotel purchase controversy |url=https://malawi24.com/2026/03/25/mbeta-denies-involvement-in-amaryllis-hotel-purchase-controversy/ |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-GB}}</ref> He also told the committee that trustees of the Public Service Pension Trust Fund had failed to conduct adequate due diligence before the transaction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Banda |first=Ephraim Mkali |date=2026-03-25 |title=AG tells Parliament PSPTF trustees failed due diligence in Amaryllis purchase |url=https://malawi24.com/2026/03/25/ag-tells-parliament-psptf-trustees-failed-due-diligence-in-amaryllis-purchase/ |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=Malawi 24 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mbeta, Frank Farook}} Category:Living people Category:Malawian lawyers Category:University of Malawi alumni Category:People from Blantyre Category:Attorneys-general of Malawi Category:Year of birth missing (living people)