Update: In ongoing debates regarding the Amaryllis Hotel inquiry, the government has criticized the Public Accounts Committee report on the matter, labeling it incomplete, according to AllAfrica. Information Minister Shadric Namalomba challenged the report's credibility because key witnesses, including former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba and representatives from Yusuf Investments Limited, were not questioned. Despite the government's stance, committee chairperson Steven Malondera defended the review process and affirmed that the report is ready for parliamentary presentation.
In a separate economic story, rights activists from the National Advocacy Platform have formally petitioned President Peter Mutharika to urgently suspend selected fuel levies, according to Nyasa Times. The activists argue the levies are driving up pump prices and worsening the cost of living for ordinary citizens. Echoing these concerns, MW Nation reports that UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe has cautioned that Malawi is currently on a dangerous economic path due to public finance pressures.
Update: Following earlier coverage of the Department of Disaster Management Affairs relocation, governance analysts are warning of a steady concentration of executive power, according to the Mail & Guardian. The transfer of the disaster management department from the office of Vice-President Jane Mayemu Ansah to the Office of the President and Cabinet occurred after controversy over her travel expenses. Observers note the move mirrors institutional shifts seen during Mutharika's first term.
Meanwhile, as the country marked 14 years since the death of former President Bingu wa Mutharika, commentators are urging the adoption of a legal framework to enforce recommendations from commissions of inquiry, AllAfrica reports. National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe stated that the lack of progress on the 2012 medical and institutional recommendations reflects a systemic failure to translate official inquiry findings into actual policy.