Foreign Affairs is yet to settle bills in excess of K850 million to suppliers who offered various services during the 2021 SADC Heads of State and Government Summit.

Malawi hosted the regional indaba last August where President Chakwera assumed the regional bloc’s chairmanship.

A public financial statement from Foreign Affairs shows that the ministry got K1.9 billion against a K2.9 billion budget to procure various services including transport, food, decorations and others for the summit.

The report indicates that the largest expenditure from the amount was the K664.4 million procurement of several top of the range Nissan Patrol vehicles that were used to ferry delegates.

Eyebrows have however been raised in the public domain regarding an K85-million bill supposedly charged for decoration services.

While it has settled some invoices, Foreign Affairs insists it is awaiting extra funding from Treasury to settle outstanding bills totaling close to K855 million.