Chakwera Puts Question On Hold; Wants To Quiz President Mutharika In The House Face To Face

Govt. Says President Not Coming 

Chakwera shaking hands with Peter Mutharika

The Malawi Congress Party President and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly on Wednesday said will wait for President Peter Mutharika to come in the House so he can ask and talk face to face on problems facing the country.

The Lilongwe North West legislature, Lazarus Chakwera, has put his question on hold and is appearing on Order Pater under Questions on notice to the President for Oral Replies under section 89 (4) of the Constitution of Malawi and Standing Order 70.

“We know that the President has busy schedules and could not come. I asked this question in order to engage the President in this House as prescribed by law since we always interact with Ministers, I therefore do not mind to wait until such a time as he is free to answer my question” Chakwera informed Deputy Speaker, Clement Chiwaya in the House followed by a very loud applause from opposition side

His question appearing on the order paper reads “To ask the President why there is seemingly lack of action when all the economic indicators- inflation, exchange rate, economic growth, etc are pointing in reverse direction. Leadership is doing nothing tangible, claiming it is everyone’s responsibility. Is this not abdicating your policy and its execution according to the Malawi Constitution, Articles 7 and 13 (e).

Chakwera reacted this way because President Peter Mutharika had delegated Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe as person fit to respond to the question.

Later in an interview, Chakwera maintained his stand he would rather wait to ask his question until such a time the Malawi President has time to come to the National Assembly to respond to his question.

He said his call for President to avail in the House was in accordance with laws that the president is a member of parliament. 

“So our desire has been to meet the president on matters of national importance. When we were informed that he is not able to come and has delegated which is in accordance with his powers, I for one decided that I would rather have him come because they would be follow up questions that ministers would not necessarily deal with when such questions are posed to the president.” Said Chakwera who reiterated that he wants to meet and interact with the president in the House

Kasaila; Chakwera question is general 

Leader of House, Francis Kasaila in an interview explained that Chakwera question is not related to Presidents’ own statement made in the House and therefore does not fall in category of questions that necessitate President to respond by himself. But he said in this case the law accepts that the President should delegate the minister. 

“The President had used his prerogative to delegate the Minister of Finance to respond to the question relating to Finance” indicates Kasaila

Mutharika has not addressed thr House recently 

“It is a general question” he said referring to the question made by Chakwera, then explains “The President has not addressed the House recently, and therefore according to the law, he can only come and respond to the question himself when that question is emanating from his own speech. That is what the law is saying. And therefore there is nothing irregular, and the questions that we have are all specific to relevant ministries and the President decided that the ministers should be able to answer those questions.” Explains Kasaila

When asked if he simply means the President is not coming in the House to respond his reply was “For this questions yes”

There are four questions in total that are posed to the President but will be answered by the Minister if the President will not come.

Leader of House also interrupted the Deputy Speaker, Clement Chiwaya and directed him not to continue with Questions on notice to the President as the Business Committee had agreed only to respond to Chakwera’s question on Wednesday.

“The agreement was, today we will respond to the question from the Leader of Opposition and on Friday (respond to other three questions), because the minister who has been delegated to respond to those is not in the Chamber. That was the agreement in the Business Committee” he said

Below are other three questions waiting for President Peter Mutharika’s response through delegated minister

1. Honorable Khumbo Kachali, Mzimba South-West legislature “To ask the President to explain what Government is doing about the critical shortage and unavailability of maize stocks in most ADMARC Depots and markets across the country, which has resulted in people walking a long distances for them to reach the ADMARC Markets in order to buy maize. For example, Mjinge, Edingeni, Mquocha, and Kapolo, just to mention a few in Mzimba South-West Constituency are located at a radius of about 40 kilometres away from the main ADMARC Depots at Mzimba Boma where unfortunately they spend days and nights without getting maize, inspite of assurances from the Ministry of Agriculture officials that maize would be made available, the problem still exists.”
2. Hon Kamlepo Kaua of Rumphi East “To ask the President to explain to the Nation, through this House about the food situation in this country.”
3. Nkhota-Kota South East legislature, Hon E.A Makowa also wanted to ask “To ask the President why as a nation we seem not to be making progress on identifying a new crop or crops to replace tobacco as our main cash crop. Demand for tobacco products nationally and internationally is on the decline due to the massive international campaign that is being waged against the crop on health grounds and, therefore, our reliance o tobacco as a cash crop is doomed. What plans, strategies and time frame does the State President have to fast track process?”