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 4th Meeting in the 46th Session of Parliament today
which commenced from Monday, 21st 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, 14th December, 2016 resolved that
“The House should meet for full day this Friday, 16th 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, 16th 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.
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