MaBLEM calls for Amaryllis Hotel shutdown amid unending probe

….Set for vigils, demos on May 18, 2026…

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group under the Malawi-Led Black Economic and Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) is calling on authorities to shut down the controversial Amaryllis Hotel.

MaBLEM has cited unruly behaviour of the facility’s owners Yusuf Investment who snubed the ongoing and unending Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (PAC)’s purchase probe.

In an interview on Thursday, May 7, MaBLEM National Coordinator Fryson Chodzi hinted that the hotel’s closure will give ample time for concerned parties including civil servants to confirm that indeed their pension funds have not been lost with reports that hotel’s bank accounts are frozen.

Chodzi observed that “It is hard to believe that MK90 billion out of MK128 billion has been frozen when the hotel is using the same funds for operations.

“The moment National Bank refused to disclose detailed usage of the hotel purchase proceeds, it meant the hotel is still benefiting from the sale as it is in full operation”.

He added, “These are Public servants funds and must be protected. So, the best way to safeguard taxpayers money is to shutdown or suspend Amaryllis Hotel operation until the matter is completely resolved. 

“In all fairness, where MK90 billion out of MK128 billion was paid, there is no justifiable reason for Yusuf investments to continue running the hotel as they don’t hold any reasonable shares in the facility” stated chodzi.

He charges, “In partnership with civil servants we are to go for vigils, demonstrations which tentatively have been slated for May 18, 2026 at Amaryllis Hotel.

“The vigils will be at the Hotel itself. Dubbed Occupy Amarylils, payback the money or handover the hotel to the Government”.

The hotel’s purchase probe remains sketchy as PAC is unable to complete the inquiry as key players are unavailable including former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba.

Meanwhile, PAC has asked government to help in repatriating Zamba to Malawi to appear before the Committee.