Rights activists, the Forum for National Development ( FND) is putting pressure on secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba to appear before the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) of parliament.
FND has since written the chairperson of PAC, Joyce Chitsulo to force Zamba appear before the committee to respond to allegations that she was bulldozing former Nocma chief executive officer Hellen Buluma to dubiously award fuel contracts to a Nigerian.
Former NOCMA Acting CEO Hellen Buluma
Zamba, who is the chairperson of Nocma and PS for ministry of Energy Alfonso Chikuni refused to appear before PAC in November last year.
Zamba was summoned to share more light on the alleged dubious fuel contracts the state-owned company was purportedly being pressured to undertake.
But the Office of the Attorney General (AG) at the time advised Parliament against summoning Zamba to the hearing.
In the letter we have seen, dated February 6, 2023, FND national coordinator Fryson Chodzi observes that failure to avail oneself after being summoned is tantamount to contempt of Parliament adding that the House has powers to seek warrant of arrest .
Chitsulo said the committee already resolved to write the Speaker to subpoena Zamba and Chikuni.
She added that the members agreed that Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority ( Mera) Chief Executive Officer (Ceo), Henry Kachaje should also be summoned to explain his part .
Standing Order 157(a) of Parliament of Malawi empowers PAC to scrutinise, consider and enquire into the competence of public appointees under the Constitution and report to the Assembly.
