“Dress Traditional On Friday” Idea Goes To Parliament: Business Committee In Consultations

The President Peter Mutharika’s idea to dress traditional every Friday has now made its way through the National Assmbly doors but it may stay on hold until consultations are finalised and approved.

Speaker, Richard Msowoya announced today that the idea was brought into the recent meeting of Business Committee that legislators should also start to wear local clothes every Friday.

Mutharika made directive during the launch of Best Buy Malawi Strategy that Malawians should start to put on the traditional attire every Friday as one way of promoting local fashion industry.

Mutharika himself, senior Government officials and others in civil service now follows this directive.

Men are allowed to dress this way in Parliament 

Every Friday they will be seen dressing
completely different 

However, this idea may possibly take long to make it into chambers of Parliament because tradition and practice require all Members, male or female, to dress in contemporary business attire that is; male Members wear a jacket, shirt and tie as standard dress.

So this is possibly why the Business Committee has resolved to consult before allowing members to put on African dresses in the House.

“I wish to inform the House that the Business Committee resolved that there was need for the National Assembly to consult further on the matter.” Noted Speaker, Richard Msowoya in part of his announcement about the development, “In this regard it was resolved that meanwhile the dress code as prescribed by our standing orders should be maintained”

Most Female legislators like Hon. Nyalonje 
have been putting on traditional dresses

Female MPs in this picture shows they are already 
into Buy Malawi idea unlike male Legislators

If this will be allowed, Men will basically be the ones to be asked to put on local designs on Friday's because although female legislators adhere to Parliamentary dress code, their dresses are mostly local designs.

Assented Bills and Business For the Budget Meeting 

Metrology, Appropriation Bills Assented By President Mutharika

Speaker of the National Assembly has informed the House today that two bills that were passed during the last Meeting of the National Assembly were assented by President Peter Mutharika last months.

"The bills were assented by State President Professor Peter Mutharika on 24th April 2016 and were published in the Gazette on 29th April 2016, effectively making them to be Acts of Parliament” he said 

He said the bills are Bill No. 2 of 2015 - Metrology which has been published as an Act No. 10 of 2016 and Bill No. 13 of 2016 - Appropriation Amendment which has been published as an Act of No. 11 of 2016.

The speaker continued to announce the resolutions of the Business Committee which met on Thursday 19th May, 2016 on the Business for the program for the 2016/2017 Budget Meeting of Parliament.

He said starting this week 1 of the meeting, from Monday 23rd May, 2016 to Friday 27th May, 2016 the House will spend five days debating on the motion on State of National Address which President Mutharika delivered when opening the meeting and on Friday at 10:45 hours the debate will be curtailed with winding up remarks by the legislator [Lilongwe City South East, Bentley Namasasu] who moved the motion today. 

Then on Tuesday, (tomorrow) Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development will present a Ministerial Statement on the Food Situation.

“Immediately after winding up debate on the President Speech, the House will be suspended and will reconvene at 2 O’clock in the afternoon for the Budget Presentation by Minister of Finance in this House. This means that the Minister of Finance will present his budget statement on Friday, 27th May from 2 o’clock in the afternoon.” Confirmed the Speaker

He said second and third weeks that is from Monday 30th May, 2016 to Friday 10th June 216 will be a Committee work for Budged Scrutiny. While from week four and five, from Monday 13th June, 2016 to Friday 24th June 2016 Opposition Spokespersons on Finance and Chairperson of Budget Committee will make their responses to the Budget. Debate on budget will be curtailed 24th June for the minister to wind up the debate. But the questions for oral replies will start on 14th June and bills and all other businesses including reports will be discussed during the same period. 

Week 6 from Monday 27th June to Friday 1st July 2016 the House will commence the Committee of Supply and it is being planned that the budget will be passed on Thursday 30th June, 2016 while on Friday 1st July will be passing of all budget related bills.

The seventh week which is the final week of the meeting, from Monday 4th July to Friday 8th July the House will deliberate on all remaining businesses such as bills and statements and reports and on Friday the House will adjourn Sine Die.