By Edwin Mauluka

Leader of the House in Parliament, Jappie Mhango, has said the government will not allow the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to table its report on the Amaryllis Hotel purchase until key individuals — former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba and the hotel owner — have appeared before the committee.

The hotel was acquired in 2025 by the Public Service Pensions Trust Fund (PSPTF) for MWK128 billion in a deal widely suspected to have been marred by corruption.

The issue surfaced in Parliament when Lilongwe Phiri la Njuzi MP Peter Dimba alleged that the government was persecuting officers from the Financial Intelligence Authority who had been working to freeze funds linked to the transaction. He claimed the officers had since been redeployed.

“There is also resistance in this House to allow the Public Accounts Committee to table its report on the same Amaryllis Hotel,” said Dimba. “We want the government to clarify whether it has chosen to victimise those fighting corruption while rewarding those involved in it.”

In response, Mhango said he would not be compelled to bring forward business that had not been scheduled.

He argued that the PAC report was incomplete, as it did not include input from individuals mentioned in the inquiry.

“A seller in this context, and a very important person who served at the Office of the President and Cabinet—Colleen Zamba—has not been interviewed,” he said.

Mhango advised the committee to ensure that all individuals cited are given an opportunity to be heard, stressing that there is sufficient time to conduct thorough investigations.

He cited Standing Order 177, which requires committees to notify individuals of evidence presented against them and allow them reasonable time to respond.

“I’m beginning to wonder why we are in such a hurry. What are we trying to hide?” Mhango said. “We will not proceed with half-baked work. Let the committee complete a thorough investigation before presenting the report to this House.”

He added that he would only schedule the report for tabling at a time he deems appropriate.

PAC chairperson Steve Malondela said the committee would respect the authority of the House and avoid presenting what he described as a “half-baked report.”

“The report was debated and adopted by the committee,” Malondela said, while asking First Deputy Speaker Victor Musowa for guidance.

Musowa directed the committee to continue its work.

“There is no motion on the floor stopping you. You can proceed with your investigations and report to the House,” he said. “However, if you feel your work is complete and no further inquiry is needed, the mandate could be reassigned to an ad hoc committee. We believe your committee is competent to conclude this matter without bias.”

Blantyre City Chichiri-Misesa MP Themba Mkandawire, a member of the committee, indicated that discussions were ongoing on whether to summon Zamba and a Yusuf Investment official, the reported owner of the Amaryllis Hotel.

Leader of Opposition Simplex Chithyola Banda questioned the procedural basis for sending the committee back to work after it had already adopted its report.

“Should they reopen a report that has already been adopted, or is there a standing order that provides for this?” he asked. “This report is critical. It will help resolve the matter and bring relief to those affected. We must provide a clear and logical direction.”

Chithyola also echoed concerns raised by other members that delays in tabling the PAC report could allow individuals to access funds previously frozen in connection with the hotel transaction.

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