PAC seeks Executive assistance on Zamba

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday asked Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi to help in resolving the continued non-appearance of his predecessor Colleen Zamba before the Amaryllis Hotel sale inquiry. Saidi appeared before the committee yesterday to explain the appointment of Boyd Hamela as acting principal officer of the Public Service Pension Trust Fund which bought the Blantyre-based Amaryllis Hotel for K128 billion. PAC chairperson Steven Malondera told Saidi that the committee is in a difficult position due to Zamba’s absence.

He said Zamba has cited illness and an ongoing court case for not appearing before the committee. “We find ourselves at a disadvantaged position because the former chief secretary claims there is also a warrant of arrest, but Parliament does not issue those. That is why she is not appearing,” said Malondera.

He said PAC will furnish Saidi with a letter from Zamba’s lawyer to enable the Executive to assess how it can support Parliament in ensuring due process is followed. In response, Saidi told the committee there is little he can do. “If the former SPC was still in government, I would have brought her even now.

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But she is no longer with government. It should be other organs that can bring her,” he said. Saidi also defended Hamela’s appointment, saying his secondment to the fund followed procedure and was meant to fill a gap created by the suspension of the substantive principal officer.

In an interview after his appearance, Saidi said Parliament has its own mechanisms to compel attendance and should use them. However, he declined to comment on whether government could withdraw the case involving Zamba, citing the matter’s presence before the courts. Malondera also stressed that Parliament cannot deliberate on issues before the courts, but said PAC will formally write the Executive seeking action.

Zamba was scheduled to appear before PAC on April 28 2026, after the committee reopened the inquiry. However, her lawyer George Kadzipatike earlier informed Parliament that she would not attend since she is outside the country seeking medical treatment and that there is an ongoing court case linked to the Amaryllis Hotel deal. In an interview yesterday, Kadzipatike maintained that his client can only appear before the committee once the matter before court has been concluded.

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