By Durell Namasani
The heat is turning up in Lilongwe as Attorney General Frank Mbeta finds himself at the center of a political storm after dramatically failing to appear before the Public Accounts Committee today .
Mbeta was scheduled to face the committee this morning to answer tough questions regarding the controversial K128 billion purchase of Amaryllis Hotel by the Public Service Pension Fund Trust. However, Parliament received a last-minute letter from the AG’s office at exactly 8:45am—just 45 minutes before he was due to appear—claiming he had “other extremely urgent commitments” and requesting a rescheduling .
PAC members were visibly unimpressed by the eleventh-hour excuse. Committee Chairperson Steven Malondera confirmed they have now invoked Standing Order 151 to compel Mbeta’s appearance, issuing a subpoena requiring him to appear before the committee on Wednesday at 5:30pm . “As a committee we have invoked the powers granted to us by law,” Malondera stated firmly.
But the no-show is only part of the story. Renowned political commentator and activist Alexious Kamangila has turned up the pressure by directly accusing the Attorney General of being involved in “a lot of corruption activities.” Kamangila’s allegations have added significant weight to public suspicions, suggesting that Mbeta’s reluctance to face PAC may be about more than just scheduling conflicts.
It is worth noting that Mbeta has previously denied authorizing the Amaryllis deal, claiming his office’s legal opinion has been “deliberately or carelessly misinterpreted.” He insists he never gave the green light for the pension fund to proceed with the massive hotel purchase and actually referred complaints to the Anti-Corruption Bureau . However, critics argue that if he has nothing to hide, he should have no problem facing the committee.
Meanwhile, Malawians have taken to social media in their thousands to express outrage at Mbeta’s failure to appear. The hashtag #AGMustAppear is trending locally, with citizens demanding accountability over the use of pensioners’ funds. Many are questioning why the country’s chief legal adviser would dodge a parliamentary inquiry unless he has something to hide.
Adding a disturbing twist to the drama, PAC Chairperson Malondera revealed that he and other committee members have been receiving threats from unknown individuals linked to the investigation. The matter has been reported to police, and Malondera has formally requested security protection .
The nation now waits with bated breath to see whether the Attorney General will honor the subpoena on Wednesday—or whether this standoff between Parliament and the country’s top lawyer is just beginning.
