Update: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has opened a public inquiry into the acquisition of the Amaryllis Hotel by the Public Service Pension Trust Fund (PSPTF), according to the Parliament of Malawi. The government portal notes that hearings began this week with testimonies from officials representing FDH Bank and Continental Asset Management. During the proceedings, Nico Asset Managers distanced itself from the transaction, telling the committee it had previously warned of associated risks, reports Nyasa Times. The Malawi Law Society has also intervened, advising PAC to suspend the purchase pending further parliamentary scrutiny, according to the Maravi Post. The inquiry will continue this Thursday with expected appearances from the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Reserve Bank of Malawi, before the Attorney General testifies next week.
In diplomatic news, the Malawian government received recognition for its work to end child marriage during the 70th Commission on the Status of Women in New York. According to MBC, the global partnership Girls Not Brides presented the honour to Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha. Speaking at the summit, Navicha outlined the country's ongoing work to expand access to justice for women and girls, MBC reports. She pointed to the continued enforcement of the Gender Equality Act and the expansion of community paralegal services designed to assist vulnerable populations in rural districts.