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| Davis Katsonga: Speaking in February 2016 |
Mwanza Central constituency legislator, Aaron Davis Katsonga on Tuesday evening got a standing ovation in the National Assembly for offering solution that Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Esther Mcheka Chilenje together with Leader of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera, described them “Words of Wisdom.”
Legislators are demanding their
delaying General Purpose Fund (GPF) loans of K5 million each which they are
supposed to repay between now and 2019.
The Former Speaker, Katsonga
asked the House to find proper forum to discuss the legislatures condition of
service matter as doing so in the House would negatively affect the reputation
of the House.
“Something has gone drastically
wrong.” noted Katsonga then advised, “I think the leadership of on the
Government side and Opposition should sit down and look into this matter very
seriously because the reputation of this House is going to be negatively
affected at the end of these exchanges.”
His remarks came when the members
from the opposition side of the House were insisting to progress with the
matter of their condition of service when at that time the matter was under discussion
between the Welfare Committee and the Minister of Finance and Economic
Planning, Goodall Gondwe.
Katsonga remarks further went on
to plea with the Deputy Speaker to call off her decision that the Dowa East
Legislator, Richard Chimwendo Banda should on Wednesday afternoon bring in the House
alleged evidence that the Cabinet Ministers got K5 million loans from the
Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) when the Members of Parliament are
being denied to get loans.
“Madame First Deputy Speaker, by
bringing the issue back in the House tomorrow, the evidence that’s being
sought, we are also rekindling the very issue that I am saying is wrong to be
discussed on the floor of the House” he said and further advised the Deputy Speaker
to find different approach of concluding the matter
“Thanks for the words of wisdom.”
replied Deputy Speaker while sustaining the point of order of Katsonga
“Honorable members, its high time
that we listen to words of wisdom as stated by the member for Mwanza Central.” pleaded
Chilenje who called on the House not to waste time discussing their condition
of service in the House but instead focus on the issues of national interest
“Indeed something has gone out of
order.” She concurred, “I would want to plead with the leadership to find the
way of resolving these issues and not in the House. This is totally out of
order and am ruling the whole House Out of Order for discussing these issues”
she concluded the matter
However, this winding up of the
matter failed to calm down the situation as others suggested the suspension of
the House to allow leadership to discuss on the matter. When tensions increased
further in the House, Deputy Speaker suspended the proceedings for 30 minutes
to allow the members to sober up.
Immediately the House resumed
sitting, Leader of Opposition, Lazarus Chakwera offered words of reconciliation
which was in total agreement to earlier point raised by the legislator for
Mwanza Central.
He said the manner in which the
matter was being deliberated in the House nobody is going to win and it will only
bring chaos in the House.
“I want to appeal like the former
speaker, Mwanza Central stated. I know that wisdom is not monopoly of anyone. But,
I would appeal that such matters has have preoccupied us, which matter should
not even be on the floor of this House, should be dealt with in the manner in
which it was prescribed.
The Opposition Leader urged
members never to debate issues concerning conditions of service on the floor
and that any member requiring such information should approach the correct
offices “and not stipulate staff that agitates Malawians across the country
against certain members of the society whether they be ministers or parliamentarians
in general.”
Chakwera then appealed to all
members to proceed with normal business “but those who have responsibility to
see through that things are done right should do so.”
