Malawi PAC Chair Accuses Acting ACB Director of Interference in Hotel Inquiry

Steven Malondera alleges Gabriel Chembezi attempted to influence parliamentary probe into Amaryllis transaction through threats and pressure.

The chairperson of Malawi's Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has filed a formal complaint accusing the acting director general of the Anti-Corruption Bureau of attempting to interfere with a parliamentary investigation into the Amaryllis Hotel transaction.¹²

Steven Baba Malondera Kamsiyamo submitted a seven-page complaint dated 22 April 2026 to Gabriel Chembezi, alleging that Chembezi sought to influence the PAC process through threats, pressure, and misuse of investigative material in order to secure his confirmation as permanent ACB director.¹

According to the complaint, Chembezi first contacted Malondera on 10 March 2026 via WhatsApp after obtaining his number through a relative.¹² The two met that evening at Africa House in Lilongwe, where Chembezi allegedly claimed members of the Malawi Law Society were using the Amaryllis investigation to block his permanent appointment.¹ Malondera alleges that Chembezi directly requested to be "cleared" by the PAC inquiry to facilitate his confirmation.¹

Malondera states he declined to provide such assurance.¹

Two days later, hours before Chembezi was scheduled to appear before the committee, he allegedly telephoned Malondera seeking assurances that he would be "protected" during his testimony.² Malondera rejected this request.²

The complaint details a second encounter on 30 March 2026, when Chembezi allegedly visited Malondera, though the article detailing this meeting was truncated.¹

The allegations describe what Malondera characterizes as a pattern of attempted undue influence, intimidation, and inducements designed to manipulate the outcome of the inquiry.²

Public pressure has mounted on social media platforms including Facebook and WhatsApp for Chembezi to step aside from his position.² The Amaryllis Hotel sale has been the subject of parliamentary scrutiny, with the transaction described as controversial.¹²