Tag Archives: Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC)

corruption, Malawi

Parley chairperson Steven Malondera exposed in bribery act: Amaryllis Hotel purchase probe

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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A Malawian lawyer, Alexious Kamangira, has petitioned the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate Steve Baba Malondera, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), over allegations of bribery linked to the Amaryllis Hotel deal.

Kamangira claims Malondera received K65 million to influence the committee’s findings, with only K1 million allegedly distributed to each member.

The allegations have sparked concerns about transparency and accountability in public financial management, with Kamangira calling for Malondera’s resignation and an independent investigation.

Malondera has denied the allegations, stating he hasn’t received any money related to the inquiry.

The Amaryllis Hotel deal has attracted significant public interest, with the PAC inquiry already facing criticism for proceeding without key witness Colleen Zamba’s testimony.

The government has questioned the inquiry’s completeness, citing Zamba’s absence and lack of testimony from the hotel’s seller, Yusuf Investments Limited.

Business, Malawi

“Suspend Amaryllis Hotel transactions”-Malawi Law Society tells PAC

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

By Innocent Manda & Patience Longwe

LILONGWE-(MANA)-The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has advised the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament to suspend the ongoing purchase of Amaryllis Hotel, citing concerns over procedural irregularities and incomplete information regarding the transaction.

Speaking before the Committee on Wednesday, MLS Vice President McHarven Ngwata said the Society was engaging Parliament as part of its mandate to provide guidance on legal and governance matters surrounding the hotel acquisition.

“The information we have presented represents only a fraction of what is available regarding this transaction. Without full disclosure, any recommendations we give could misguide the Committee,” Ngwata said.

Ngwata emphasized that the Society’s preliminary position was that the transaction should not proceed, primarily because correspondence between the fund, its trustees and the Registrar of Financial Institutions indicated that approval had not been properly obtained.

Ngwata further noted that the Registrar of Financial Institutions had thoroughly reviewed the relevant documents and provided guidance, reinforcing the Society’s recommendation to halt the purchase.

“We do not have complete information and therefore cannot issue a definitive legal position. However, based on the data available, the transaction should be suspended,” Ngwata emphasised.

During the presentation, Ngwata outlined a detailed timeline of events from March 2024 through late 2025, highlighting key actions by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund (PSPTF), including correspondence with the Office of the President and Cabinet, reconstitution of the Board of Trustees, issuance of comfort letters and engagements with external legal advisors.

According to Ngwata, legal advice obtained by the Fund indicated that while PSPTF had an 80 percent chance of successfully defending the transaction in court, there was a 20 percent risk of failure due to issues arising from commitment letters issued by the principal officer.

PAC chairperson Steve Malondela applauded the MLS for appearing before the committee, saying the information provided would assist the committee in its investigations.

Malondela also urged members of the public who may have information related to the matter to come forward and assist the committee.

As PAC continues engaging stakeholders, the committee is scheduled to engage the Anti-Corruption Bureau chairperson on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

Law and order, Malawi

Parley summons embattled SPS Colleen Zamba over MK17.2bn COVID-19 funds mismanagement

Maravi Post Reporter


LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (Pac) has summoned the embattled Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba to appear before it to provide answers to issues that have been pending regarding audit reports and others.


Pac Chairperson Mark Botomani told The Daily Times that the committee would like mainly to know the action taken by the government so far regarding the outstanding MK17.2 billion COVID-19 audit report.

The report revealed that money for COVID-19 response was misused by government agencies through dubious payments of allowances, suspicious procurements, wrong-accounting, among others amounting to MK17. 2 billion meant.

The meeting between the parliamentary committee and Zamba was expected to take place last week but had to be rescheduled because of the death of vice president Saulos Chilima, who died in a plane crash on June 10, 2024 in Chikangawa Forest.

Botomani added that Pac will meet Zamba after the 21 days of national mourning which the government set are over.

He said, apart from the alleged abuse of COVID-19 funds, the committee would want the SPC to explain why some important government positions are not being filled despite falling vacant for some time.

The country currently does not have its chief immigration officer and Anti-Corruption Bureau director general after the two bodies’ heads, Charles Kalumo and Martha Chizuma, respectively, left office.

“Apart from that, there are many positions in the government that have not been filled for a long time. As the SPC, we would like her to explain why such positions are not filled and what is her office doing about it.

“We have been meeting with different stakeholders and many issues came out and many issues are pointing to the office of the SPC. We also want her to explain the measures that have been put in place in order to control unnecessary expenditure amidst the economic challenges,” Botomani said.

In response, spokesperson in the Office of President and Cabinet Robert Kalindiza assured that the SPC would appear in Parliament

He said Zamba has always and will always be meeting Pac when issues arise.

“During the last meeting, there were a number of outstanding issues that needed to be addressed as soon as possible. The meeting to conclude all these issues was arranged but due to the tragedy that the country had, it was impossible to continue with those meetings while the country is mourning.

“When all is set, the meeting will take place and all these matters will be discussed and concluded,” Kalindiza said.

President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance government failed to take action on those misused the funds.

Education, Politics

PAC pins down Ministry of Education for failing to account for MK3 billion

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)- The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) this week was taken to task for failing to account for MK3 billion it spent in the financial year ending June 2015.

This was revealed when Ministry officials appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC).

Officials from the Ministry said they needed two weeks to get information on how the money was used, an answer that annoyed the Parliamentary Committee.

PAC however expressed worrisome over the development saying the ministry stand on showed incompetent of it’s officials.

The committee’s vice chairperson Kamlepo Kalua, observed that it is problematic that the ministry is unable to reconcile books for seven months.

Kalua said it is impractical that they can do the reconciliation in a space of two weeks.

He added that such issues affect implementation of the national budget.

“We have reasoned with the ministry to address this issue with the Auditor General (AG). The matter is outstanding. This could be a loophole for corruption.

“If they were not able to reconcile with the AG all this time, how can they reconcile within two weeks?” Kalua quarrelled.

The MK3 billion is out of the MK5.3 billion disclosed in the financial statements that were not recorded in the Integrated Financial Management Information System (Ifimis) in the Auditor General’s report.

On Monday, the committee finished getting oral responses from government ministries, departments and agencies on issues raised in the Auditor General’s report for the year ending June 30 2014.

On Tuesday this week the PAC started scrutinising issues raised in the report for the year ending June 30 2015.