By Pemphero Malimba:
The National Advocacy Platform (Nap) has urged Parliament to table the Public Accounts Committee (Pac) report on its inquiry into the Public Service Pension Trust Fund’s (PSPTF) purchase of Amaryllis Hotel before the current meeting ends.
The civil society grouping made the call as Parliament sits from July 7 to 31, 2026, saying lawmakers should bring closure to the matter and ensure accountability over the controversial transaction.
Nap chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said pension funds represent the sacrifices and future security of workers and must be protected from mismanagement or abuse.
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“Parliament should not become an accomplice to wrongdoing through silence or inaction. It must stand with pensioners and the public,” Kondowe said.
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However, Leader of the House Jappie Mhango maintained that the report should only be tabled after former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba appears before the committee.
Pac chairperson Steven Malondera accused the government of applying double standards by insisting that Zamba should appear before the committee while pursuing criminal proceedings against her over the same matter.
“It is the same government that obtained a warrant of arrest against Zamba before we concluded the inquiry or tabled the report in Parliament,” Malondera said.
He said the government should first discontinue the criminal case.
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Zamba’s lawyer, George Kadzipatike, said his client has always been willing to appear before the committee but had been prevented from doing so because of the criminal case brought against her over alleged abuse of office relating to the hotel purchase.
Kadzipatike added that Standing Order 192 of Parliament prohibits the National Assembly and its committees from discussing matters before the courts.
Pac launched the inquiry after reports that PSPTF paid about K90 billion for Amaryllis Hotel despite the Reserve Bank of Malawi directing that the transaction should not proceed.
The committee has since heard testimony from several individuals involved in the transaction, but the report remains pending as members await Zamba’s appearance.
