Nusrat Osman, 47, was freed on Thursday near Blantyre after nearly a week in captivity and was taken to hospital before being reunited with her family.
Four suspected kidnappers died after exchanging gunfire with police during the rescue operation; officers said the group was armed with an AK-47 rifle and a pistol.
Deputy Inspector General Noel Kayira was shot in the operation and remains in stable condition, while Osman's family hailed him as a hero.
Osman was abducted on 11 September when four men blocked her car in Blantyre's Mount Pleasant area; police had offered a 30 million kwacha reward as the case drew rare concern among foreign residents and businesses.
Police have not disclosed a motive, identified the dead suspects or explained how they tracked the group, and say the investigation is continuing.