A company at the centre of a parliamentary probe into the sale of a prominent hotel in Malawi has refused to give evidence in a public hearing, citing death threats and harassment.
Yusuf Investments Limited (YIL) was due to appear before Malawi’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
But the company said it would only testify behind closed doors — a request the committee rejected.
In a statement, YIL said it had submitted a detailed written account of the sale of the Amaryllis Hotel on 24 April, five days before the hearing.
The company said it attended Parliament as required, but asked for the session to be held in camera — a legal term meaning privately, with no public or media access.
YIL said it had evidence of “direct threats, persistent harassment and escalating hostile commentary” against its directors, their families and associates.
It added that some of the material it handed to MPs included information capable of “inciting harm”.
The firm also argued that a public hearing could force it to disclose sensitive commercial information, which it said might harm its business interests and expose it to lawsuits.
“On the basis of legal advice, YIL was unable to proceed with a public hearing under the prevailing conditions,” the statement read.
‘We did not refuse to cooperate’
YIL was keen to stress that it had not refused to work with the committee.
“YIL attended as required, was ready to proceed and had already provided its substantive submission,” the company said.
It blamed the breakdown on “the circumstances relating to the format of the hearing”.
The firm said it remained willing to engage with MPs, but only in a setting that protects both personal safety and legitimate business secrets.
YIL urged the media and the public to discuss the matter with “accuracy, fairness and restraint”.
The Public Accounts Committee has not yet commented on YIL’s claims.
It is unclear whether the committee will issue a fresh summons or take any action against the company for not participating in the open hearing.
