By Wezzie Gausi:
The Public Accounts Committee (Pac) of Parliament has resolved to subpoena Attorney General Frank Mbeta after he failed to appear before the committee for questioning in the ongoing inquiry into issues surrounding the purchase of Amaryllis Hotel by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund (PSPTF).
The committee had invited Mbeta to appear before it yesterday, but received a letter from his office shortly before the meeting indicating that he would not attend.
In the letter dated March 16, 2026 and addressed to the Clerk of Parliament, Mbeta asked the committee to set another date for his appearance.
“Due to other extremely urgent commitments, I am unable to attend the meeting. In that regard, I seek your indulgence that another date be appointed for my appearance,” the letter reads.
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However, Pac rejected the request and resolved to compel Mbeta to appear before the committee.
Pac chairperson Steve Malondera said the committee has instructed its legal department to immediately issue a subpoena requiring Mbeta to appear before it tomorrow at 5:30pm.
Malondera said his committee like any other has powers to summon any person to attend and give evidence before it.
“The meeting will be held outside normal parliamentary working hours because Parliament is expected to sit between 2pm and around 5pm on the same day,” he said.
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Malondera also disclosed that the committee has been facing pressure as the inquiry continues including “many threats”.
He added that he has reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police and briefed the Speaker of Parliament, while engaging leaders of political parties represented in the House to ensure committee members are not influenced as they carry out their work.
Meanwhile, the committee has lined up several more key officials to appear before it as the inquiry continues.
Pac is currently conducting an inquiry into issues surrounding the purchase of Amaryllis Hotel, a matter that has attracted significant public interest.
