Parliament To Meet Early In 2017: House Adjourns Sine Die Today

The Malawi National Assembly is expected to meet much earlier next year possibly in February to allow the House do away with the business which could not be finished during the Meeting which has come to an end today.

Leader of House, George Chaponda informed the House when he delivered his closing remarks during the closure of the 4^th Meeting in the 46^th Session of Parliament today which commenced from Monday, 21^st November, 2016.

In his motion for adjournment of Meeting Sine Die, Chaponda said although the meeting tackled several businesses, there remain a lot of important business including five bills, statements, motions among others.

Before adjournment, the House passed the National Planning Commission bill and the House had also passed the Access to Information Bill this week Wednesday and this brings number of bills passed during the meeting to a total of 13 while 10 private members motions were also passed..

The early meeting of the National Assembly next year will come following rejection of the motion for the extension of sitting time for this Friday morning from being a half day meeting to a full day in order to allow members discuss over five outstanding bills.

The decision to extend time came in the Business Committee on Wednesday ahead of adjournment this Friday. The Committee realised huge backlog of remaining business and programme but Opposition members shot down the extension motion proposed by the Leader of House by voting no when the question was put on the floor.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Richard Msowoya communicated on Thursday to the House that the Business Committee meeting on Wednesday, 14^th December, 2016 resolved that “The House should meet for full day this Friday, 16^th December, 2016 through the motion to be moved by the Leader of the House.

“The Business Committee noted that about seven Government Bills are very still outstanding on the Order Paper. Some of those Bills are very crucial to the extent that they are expected to be passed during this meeting of Parliament.” speaker noted when making the announcement on Thursday and added “The Leader of the House also informed the Business Committee that consultations are underway for possible extension of the meeting next week.”

Following the rejection of the motion today Friday, 16^th December 2016, Chaponda said he respects the House decision but the House will prioritise these bills during the next meeting of Parliament next year.

“We have decided that to accommodate Government business, Government bills we will have the next Meeting of Parliament will be earlier than scheduled” disclosed Chaponda in an interview

But he admitted that even if Parliament had accepted motion to extend sitting time and even for a week, still the House could not have succeed to complete the remaining business hence proposal to begin the next meeting earlier in 2017. “The best which we can do is the one which we have said to have an earlier parliament to deal with these ones and that will be subject to President agreement.” He added

Leader of Opposition and Malawi Congress Party, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera was absent in the House attending to the burial ceremony of daughter to Malawi’s former President Dr. Bakili Muluzi while Peoples Party leader, Uladi Mussa is reportedly outside the country.

Ralph Jooma

Speaking on behalf of opposition parties, People’s Party Chief Whip, Ralph Jooma thanked both sides of the House for being accommodative during the discussions and assured that the opposition will continue with obligation of polishing Government legislations and to fill legislation gaps by bringing private members bills.

“As opposition, we believe we have huge obligation to positively shape and polish up legislations that are proposed in the House by the executive and where necessary help to fill legislative gaps by bringing private members bills. And awe pledge to the whole house that we shall continue to do so.” he said

“It has been a meeting without shortage of challenges including rising in temperament.” He noted but thanked Speaker of the House for providing good leadership adding that “both sides; Government and Opposition were very accommodative to the extent that tat the end of the day we believe that in this particular parliamentary meeting we ended up with resolutions that will better address the interest of all Malawians.