In separate interviews, legal minds opined that in the absence of a substantive director general or deputy, the ACB lacks an internal chain of authority to sanction an investigation into allegations against its acting head. Private practice lawyer Justin Dzonzi argued that the gap effectively shifts jurisdiction to investigate the issue to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) whose constitutional mandate covers all criminal matters. “Keep in mind that under the Constitution, every crime committed in Malawi is under the authority of the DPP.

Thus, my view would be that it is now the DPP who is best placed to investigate and if there is proof… then the DPP can authorise a prosecution,” he said. Dzonzi further said Malondera can also initiate the process by formally writing the DPP’s office directly. But another private practice lawyer John-Gift Mwakhwawa said in a separate interview that the Malawi Police Service is better insulated from internal pressures that could arise within the ACB, particularly in a case involving its leadership.

“The police have been trained to investigate. The police investigators would be more independent, not the ACB investigating itself or an investigator from ACB investigating the acting director general,” he said. Mwakhwawa added that a broader approach could strengthen credibility, saying: “Investigators from the Financial Intelligence Authority and Malawi Revenue Authority can also be brought in.” On his part, National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe, a lawyer, framed the issue in institutional terms and called for an investigation “insulated from the ACB’s internal command”.

He said: “Given the sensitivity and institutional implications, the most credible approach is a genuinely independent, multi-agency or specially constituted investigative process.” Kondowe argued that safeguarding the process may require the acting director general to step aside. National Anti-Corruption Alliance chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa also linked temporary withdrawal from office to the credibility of the investigative process. “Good governance demands that if you are under investigation you need to step aside so that the investigations can proceed with credibility and without any form of interference,” he said.

DPP Fostino Maere yesterday referred The Nation queries to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs whose spokesperson Frank Namangale asked for more time. National Police spokesperson Lael Chimtembo also requested time to consult. At the political level, presidential press secretary Cathy Maulidi said President Peter Mutharika was yet to get a copy of Malondera’s complaint.

Malondoera’s communication indicated the President among those copied. In his letter dated April 22 2026, Malondera alleged that Chembezi sought to influence the inquiry and clear his name, including through alleged blackmail and inducements. He also alleged that Chembezi made offers to clear former Cabinet ministers and attempted to link him to alleged misuse of K1.1 billion in the Mzuzu Airport rehabilitation project when he (Malondera) served as Deputy Minister of Transport in the previous administration.

PAC resumed the Amarylis inquiry yesterday after government and other stakeholders protested the tabling of its earlier report demanding that all key stakehokders be heard. Government had specifically stated that Zamba and Yusuf Investment Limited were crucial to the matter; hence they were supposed to be heard.