The Malawi former Vice President, Khumbo Kachale, Kamlepo Kalua and Everson Andrew Makowa Mwale have joined opposition leader, Lazarus Chakwera by reserving their questions until President Peter Mutharika finds time to avail himself in the House to answer their questions.
Questions directed to President from both Kachali legislature for Mzimba South-West and Kamlepo for Rumphi East are on status of food situation in the country while question from Makowa Mwale for Nkhotakota-South East is on progress to identify a cash crop that replaces tobacco.
Minister of Agriculture, Allan Chiyembekeza was delegated to answer the questions although they were seeking direct reply from the President in the House.
Before reserving his question on Friday afternoon just before the House moved the motion to adjourn Sine Die, former vice president Khumbo Kachali sought guidance of Speaker of the National Assembly, Richard Msowoya if the President act to delegate Minister was not contravening Standing Order of 2013 (201) "Where the President is required to respond to questions in accordance with the provision of section 89 (3C) of the constitution he or she may not delegate such functions to a member of Cabinet."
However, Speaker guided Kachali that the cited section of Constitution provision, chapter 89 .3 further indicates that the President shall respond to questions only when he is addressing the House each year before the consideration of the official budget where he report on the future policies of Government and the policies of the previous year.
“That is what in Parliamentary language is termed as State of the National Address. And during that time the President shall not delegate questions." He said, "Under any other provision, whether the House does request the president to come through resolution or would like the president to come at any point to answer a question not related to provision 89 .3, he is allowed to delegate the questions.” Clarified the Speaker
Accepting the ruling by the speaker, Khumbo said "I will reserve my question until when I see the President in this Honorable House. I know he is a busy person but he will find time"
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| Kalua: President not to Minister |
When time came for Kamlepo Kalua to ask his question, he stood to say; "My question is to ask the President not a Minister, to explain to the Nation, the President not the Minister, through this House about the food situation in this country. The President, not the Minister." He said, "And I will go with the decision of the other two speakers that it will be a waste of time for me to ask the Minister when I said the President... this question is directed to the President..."
Nkhotakota South East, Everson Andrew Makowa Mwale also opted to chose the decision made by Kachali and Kaua.
“What Nkhotakota-South East was looking for is HE's perspective" he said, "If the Minister replies, there will be some supplementary questions that honorable ministers will be in a position to consult the President to get his perspective on those supplementary questions so I therefore I would like to pend my question until the President avail himself to answer it"
On Wednesday, Leader of Opposition, Lazarus Chakwera also reserved his question to President on the same reason that he would rather wait until such a time the President avail himself in the House to answer the question.
These reactions prompted Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume to ask Speaker if the House would prefer the President to write response then read in the House by the Minister and if the House feels that the Ministers are too general to answer questions.
Responding to the first question the speaker's said, that will be another form of delegating question.
But the Finance Minister, Goodall Gondwe also stood to express point that it would not dignify the President to come in the House to answer questions because there would be some follow up questions that may just be asked to humiliate the President.
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