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Malawi: National Assembly Public Accounts Committee

Last checked: 22 October 2026 · By parliament

Malawi's Public Audit Act requires the Auditor General to send an annual report to the President and the Speaker by 31 December each year 1. The Public Accounts Committee must prepare a written report at least twice a year 1. Controlling officers, heads of statutory bodies or the affected Minister may comment on a committee report within seven days, and the Speaker presents the report with those comments to the National Assembly 1. The House adopted a committee report in November 2024, as reported by MBC 2.
Law
Public Audit Act, Chapter 37:01, version at 31 December 2014 1
Auditor General's annual report
By 31 December each year, to the President and the Speaker, section 15(1) 1
Committee reports
At least twice in every year, signed by the chairperson, section 23(1) 1
Official comments
Within seven days of receiving a committee report, section 23(2) 1
Committee chair in November 2024
Mark Botomani, MP for Zomba Chisi 2

The audit and committee cycle

Section 15(1) of the Public Audit Act says the Auditor General "shall by 31 December of each year forward to the President and to the Speaker of the National Assembly" an annual report 1. Under section 15(3) the Speaker presents the report to the Assembly forthwith when it sits and gives members a chance to comment 1.

Section 23(1) says the committee "shall at least twice in every year prepare a written report signed by the chairperson" 1. Section 23(3) says the committee forwards the report with comments to the Speaker, who presents it to the Assembly. If the Assembly is not sitting, it is presented at the start of the next session 1.

The legal database version reviewed by this site is dated 31 December 2014. The database notes that an amendment dated 11 May 2018 had not been applied to that text 1.

How officials respond

Section 23(2) of the Act gives the controlling officer of a Ministry, the head of a statutory body or organisation, or the affected Minister seven days from receipt of a committee report to comment on it 1. Those comments go to the Speaker with the report 1.

The Act contains no Treasury Minute and does not mention the Secretary to the Treasury 1. Section 16(2) lets the Auditor General report a failure to act on audit recommendations to the responsible person 1.

This site has not found a published series of government replies to committee reports after adoption, as of 22 October 2026.

A recent committee report

MBC reported on 27 November 2024, under the byline of Rabson Kondowe, that committee chairperson Mark Botomani presented a report on the Auditor General's report on government accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2022 2. The report said the committee found that "several government ministries, departments and agencies continue to mismanage public resources" 2.

According to MBC, the committee recommended a centralised asset management system and debt control measures. The article said the House adopted the report 2. The article does not mention a Treasury reply 2.

Where to find documents

When checked on 22 October 2026, the parliament.gov.mw home page listed news items dated no later than September 2014 and carried links unrelated to Parliament 3. This site could not open another official address for Hansard or committee reports. Hansard and committee report locations are left out until confirmed.

Records on this site

This site's Malawi record will follow Public Accounts Committee recommendations. Each record follows the method in How to track a recommendation.

Common questions

When must Malawi's Auditor General report?

By 31 December each year, to the President and the Speaker, under section 15(1) of the Public Audit Act 1.

How often must Malawi's Public Accounts Committee report?

At least twice a year, under section 23(1) 1.

Can officials reply to a committee report in Malawi?

Yes. Section 23(2) allows the controlling officer, head of body or Minister to comment within seven days 1.

Who chaired Malawi's Public Accounts Committee in 2024?

Mark Botomani, as reported by MBC on 27 November 2024 2.

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Sources

  1. MalawiLII: Public Audit Act, Chapter 37:01, version at 31 December 2014 (page checked 22 October 2026)
  2. Malawi Broadcasting Corporation: Parliament calls for transparency and accountability of govt resources, as reported by Rabson Kondowe (27 November 2024)
  3. parliament.gov.mw: home page (page checked 22 October 2026)

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