Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has come under scrutiny for a lakeside meeting with the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) days before interviewing Governor George Partridge about the Amaryllis Hotel acquisition inquiry.
Political and governance commentators yesterday questioned the timing of the meeting in Salima on Saturday.
But in an interview yesterday, PAC chairperson Steven Malondera said the lakeside meeting was a quarterly session where PAC members are briefed on economic developments.
He expressed concern that the media scrutiny could undermine the committee’s work.
Malondera, whose committee is undertaking the inquiry, referred other questions to the clerk of the committee who was, however, not available for comment.
Partridge is scheduled to appear before PAC this Wednesday in his capacity as registrar of pension funds, a role that places him at the centre of the inquiry into the controversial sale of the Blantyre-based hotel to the Public Service Pension Trust Fund.
In a written response last night, RBM spokesperson Boston Maliketi Banda confirmed that the central bank on March 14 2026 met members of Parliament under PAC and the Budget and Finance Committee in Salima.
He said the RBM governor holds regular engagements with these parliamentary committees as part of its routine stakeholder outreach.
Said Maliketi Banda: “The purpose of these meetings is to appraise members of recent economic and financial developments in the country, including the prevailing monetary policy stance. As part of this engagement, the bank often takes the opportunity to explain recent decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee [MPC] and their implications for the economy.
“The bank considers these engagements important as they provide an opportunity to keep members of Parliament informed about developments in the economy and the policy measures being implemented to maintain macroeconomic stability.”
He said the engagements are held outside Parliament premises for logistical convenience and scheduling considerations.
Maliketi Banda said RBM covers logistical costs associated with these meetings as part of facilitating these engagements.
But governance experts say the meeting’s proximity to the governor’s scheduled appearance creates perception problems, regardless of the intended agenda.
In his reaction, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation executive director Michael Kaiyatsa said the timing is difficult to justify from a governance perspective, adding that when a regulator facing an inquiry meets privately with the oversight body shortly before a formal hearing, questions inevitably arise about whether the process could be influenced.
“Even if nothing improper occurred, the timing creates a perception problem. Oversight institutions must not only be independent, they must also be seen to be independent,” he said.
Nyika Institute executive director Moses Mkandawire said while parliamentary committees have authority to meet outside their premises if standing orders allow, holding such meetings during an active inquiry raises procedural concerns.
On his part, Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency executive director Willy Kambwandira said Parliament must exercise the highest standards of procedural integrity.
“Why hold a meeting in Salima when both parties are based in Lilongwe? The optics are deeply problematic given the timing and significant public interest on matters before PAC and RBM,” he said.
Civil Society Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe said while consultations between institutions are not unusual, oversight processes benefit from clear procedural separation, adding that the timing may understandably raise questions particularly because the PAC inquiry is ongoing.
PAC is conducting an inquiry into the sale of Amaryllis Hotel at K128.7 billion. This week, it is expected to interview Attorney General Frank Mbeta and Partridge, among others.
