President Peter Mutharika has expressed support for the ongoing inquiry into the controversial Amaryllis Hotel deal, saying no one involved in corruption will be shielded.

In a statement, Mutharika said he has been closely monitoring the inquiry by the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament of Malawi into the procurement of the Amaryllis Hotel.

He said the inquiry demonstrates government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and allowing oversight institutions to operate independently.

“I reiterate my Government’s firm stance in the fight against corruption. This administration is not in office for a feast. Public office is a sacred trust bestowed by the people of Malawi, and any misuse of public resources or influence for personal gain is a serious betrayal of that trust,” reads part of the statement.

Meanwhile, governance expert Dr Augustine Magolobondo said the President’s stance signals clear support and gives the parliamentary committee added momentum to carry out its work.
Magolobondo said it is important that relevant authorities clearly demonstrate their positions on the matter to ensure transparency and accountability in the process.

“The president has demonstrated unequivocal support and this is good, that the executive has commented on the matter,” he said.

In a related development, the Secondary School Teachers Union (SESTU) is calling for the resignation of the board of the Public Service Pension Trust Fund following the controversial purchase of the Amaryllis Hotel by the fund.

SESTU president Pilirani Kapolo said the board should step down to pave the way for an effective and transparent investigation into how the deal was handled and to establish who benefited from it.

Kapolo warned that the union will hold a vigil at the Pension Trust Fund offices if the board does not resign within 21 days.

The parliamentary inquiry into the purchase of the Amaryllis Hotel by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund has attracted significant public interest amid fears that civil servants’ pension funds may have been misused in the way the deal was conducted.

The hotel, previously valued at K47 billion, was purchased at K128 billion, a move that has sparked public outrage.