3rd Meeting of 45th Session for National Assembly Rise Sine Die; Chakwera Brands the Meeting as Successful

3^rd Meeting of 45^th Session for National Assembly Rise Sine Die; Chakwera Brands the Meeting as Successful

The 2014-2015 Budget Review Meeting of National Assembly has adjourned Sine Die on Friday 27^th February 2015.

Delivering his Adjournment Remarks, Leader of Opposition Hon. Lazarus Chakwera offered his appreciation to all members from both sides for constructive criticism in a very compacted meeting they had which he said has enable the house to do business in a manner that informs Malawians that Legislatures always put people’s issues first.

He also encouraged members and government to continue strive to end poverty by creating growth to Malawians particularly those in rural areas and make policies that does not only benefit few. He added that Executive should ensure that decisions made in the House are followed.

Chakwera

Chakwera while expressing satisfaction of how the House transacted its business also made emphasis that committees “must continue doing their work and be seem to function as they continue provide oversight role”

Moving his Adjournment Motion that the House Adjourn Sine Die Leader of House Hon Francis Kasaila, expressed his sincere appreciation to all members for being serious during the deliberations.

“I wish to assure this August House that government will take into account each and every alternative suggested in this meeting to inform future policy changes and implementation.” He said while moving a motion that the house do adjourn Sine Die.

The 3^rd Meeting largely for the Midyear Budget Review began on 2^nd February to 27^th February 2015.

The House had discussed two Ministerial Statements and failed to discuss two Ministerial Statements which will be discussed in the next Meeting of Parliament.

 

Goodal: Minister of Finance

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development delivered on 6^th February 2015 a Mid Year Budget review and was agreed to it on 16 February 2015, the revised estimates were considered by Committee of Supply starting on 19^th February and 24^th February in which the House passed a total sum of K769.2 billion.

During the meeting the House considered and passed a total of five Government Bills; International Development Association Skills Development Project Loan Authorization and Ratification, Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill, Supplementary Appropriation 2014/2015, Traffic in Persons Bill and Higher Education Students Loan.

However two bills have been referred to Parliamentary Committee on Trade and Industry and Tourism for consideration; Insolvency and Metrology, and the Committee is expected to submit its report this House during the next Meeting of the Assembly in May June 2015. The house failed to discuss and conclude; Reserve Bank of Malawi (Amendment), Estate Duty (Amendment), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Amendment) and Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply.

On 18^th February 2015, the House confirmed Lexten Shame Kachama on his appointment as Inspector General of Malawi Police Service.

As the House was adjourned this Friday a total of 98 questions from 180 questions submitted to line ministries for oral replies were responded to and the remaining 82 questions according to Kasaila will be responded to in the next Meeting.

YAD: their petition was considered (Pic. YAD members Captured when Presenting Petition on ban for Alcohol in Sachets)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Private Members Motion and Several other Committee Reports were presented including two Public Petitions were also considered in the House.

Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill Receives Overwhelming Response: Passed Without Amendment

Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill Receives Overwhelming Response: Passed Without Amendment 

The much awaited bill Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill has received irresistible positive reaction from members of National Assembly.

The Bill was presented on Thursday afternoon by Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare hon. Patricia Kaliati. She told the house that the bill seek among others raise the marriage age from 15 to 18 years in order to promote wellbeing of children especially girls who are being married at tender age.

“The bill adds value to the promotion of education and empowerment of children especially the girl child.”

She said girls are continuously facing gender based violence and that Malawi is among 10 countries with the highest child marriage levels in the world currently estimated at 52% which she called the “sad note”

She said this development is ruining the future of girls because of fistula due to teen pregnancies and school dropouts.

Responding to the bill party spokes persons hailed the bill saying it will assist alleviating challenges that women and girls are facing in the country in absence of this legislation.

Malawi Congress Party Spokes person on Gender issues in the National Assembly hon. Jessie Kabwira in her remarks said “It is a longer awaited bill” adding “It declares Malawi’s fight in ending gender violence and early marriages”

She said early marriages are creating a cycle of poverty in the country and it denies girls right to heath, education and on behalf of MCP Kabwira urged all parliamentarians to support this bill in order to make people from their constituencies (those who voted them) to live better life.

Peoples Party Spokes Person hon. Patricia Kainga Nangozo said “PP supports this Bill because it will help this country to ably define who the child is in our own understanding” she added that this will help girls to stay in school and be mature before getting married a development which will help them contribute effectively to the economy.

She also hailed that the bill will protect women during divorce and added “This is a bill to benefit both men and women”

United Democratic Front (UDF) Chief Whip and Spokes Person on gender issues in Parliament hon. Lillian Patel said the party supports the bill.

She said the early child marriages are worse in her constituency “Over 21 girls aged 11 years dropped out of school in a single term at one school. I hope that problem is not only in my constituency, this might as well happen in other constituencies. We have to support this bill”

But she bemoaned that the fees contained in the bill are mean and urged the ministry to change. 

However male MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the level of debate of the bill because no male MP was given an opportunity to hold the floor and very few female MPs spoke on the bill. During the tea break male MPs were heard on top of their voices over dissatisfaction on how the bill has been debated.

The development saw leader of the Opposition in Parliament hon. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera immediately after tea break expressed his dissatisfaction over lack of men’s voice in the chamber.

“I am concerned over procedure of the debate which has been curtailed without men contributing on the bill.” He said “It should have been better to let men to speak on the bill because this is not women issue”

But the bill was passed without amendment. Immediately after the bill was passed the Leader of House Honorable Francis Kasaila thanked all parliamentarians for passing the Bill and announced that the house be adjourned immediately (That time was 16:30 hours) which was 30 minutes earlier to the official adjournment time at 17:00 hours.

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62 Dead, 153 Missing, 20,000 Rescued; Kasaila Reports in Parliament

62 Dead, 153 Missing, 20,000 Rescued; Kasaila Reports in Parliament

The Leader of Malawi National Assembly Honorable Francis Lazaro Kasaila said floods that have hit the country from the onset of the first rains during rainy season for this year have claimed 62 lives and 153 still missing.

Kasaila was addressing the House on Monday as the Members of Parliament were beginning the first sitting for the 3rd Meeting (Budget Review) of 45th Session.

He said search for the missing persons is underway and currently 20,000 victims were rescued. He mentioned that the South African government has brought in two helicopters for the task of distribution of food and other humanitarian assistance and added that World Bank will assist Malawi government with US$600,000 towards the replanting of lost crops destroyed by the floods.

Commenting on the statement, Leader of Opposition Dr. Lazarus Chakwera President for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) thanked government for being quick in its response when the disaster hit 15 districts. He also appreciated humanitarian assistance coming from all organizations responding to government calls and other calls being made by other International organizations.

People’s Party (PP) Leader in the house Hon Uladi Musa also thanked government for ensuring that flood victims from all areas and districts are being reached out with much needed humanitarian assistance.

And United Democratic Front (UDF) Leader in the House Hon Lucius Banda also appreciated government and all other institutions and individuals that are supporting the victims and expressed his heartfelt condolences to those that lost their lives.

After leaders of the political parties, Members of Parliament also took to the floor commenting on the statement made by the Leader of House and urged government and all well-wishers to continue support the flood victims.

Red Cross, Politicians Respond To Victims of Thunderstorm At Kauma as Bisnowaty Appeals for More Help

Red Cross, Politicians Respond To Victims of Thunderstorm At Kauma as Bisnowaty Appeals for More Help

Various institution and groups of people are now responding with relief items to families whose houses were damaged by thunderstorm that hit in some parts of Lilongwe on Friday night of 2^nd January.

On Monday at Kauma in the capital city Lilongwe, Red Cross brought to the victims 200 tarpaulin’s, former Member of Parliament for Kasungu Central Constituency Ken Kandodo brought some food items and household materials, and also of Department of Disaster Management distributed some plastic sheets.

In the same day, Leader of Opposition and president for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Dr. Lazarus Chakwera also visited Kauma area to appreciate the magnitude of the damage made by the storm “I came here to see for myself and encourage people. I felt greatly touched, shocked at the same time, but am thankful that the resilience of the people and those that have come out to help will add on to softening the devastations effect”

Ken Kandodo while urging others to assist victims in the area as well as other areas that have been affected by the storm said “I came here with these items just to try to alleviate some of the problems that these people are going through at the moment”

But, Member of Parliament for the area Lilongwe City Centre honorable David Bisnowaty said he is overwhelmed that people are now coming in to his constituency to assist following his appeal made hours after the incident happened.

“Am now happy that we are now taking some very serious actions following this incident” he said while thanking Kandodo for his gesture.

He added that earlier in the day he has had some discussions with City Council on how the city can quicken its response to such natural disasters. He also mentioned that the meeting also looked at other measures like planting of trees in the city and setting house standards to prevent future occurrence of similar disaster as most affected houses seem to be those that were not of up to standards.

He further appealed to all well wishers and international community like United Nations to come and help the victims with tents, clothes and food as items most needed at the moment.

Baxter Simoko one of the victims said he is more grateful that he has received tarpaulin and some household items. Like hon. Bisnowaty Simoko also asked for more help like big tents that can accommodate his family of three children and have privacy where children and parents can have their separate rooms.

“My house was completely destroyed I’m now living in a school block meant for Early Childhood Development classes.” He said, “We are sharing the block with other five families we just demarcated the class using some bamboos.”

“Am not sure if am building a house this year,” he added, “if I do then it will be a very small one because I don’t have anything now, everything was destroyed, and clothes that you are seeing me putting on was given by a friend”

The estimated number of victims of Friday night thunderstorm is at 392 families according to list of names of victims collected by Hon. Bisnowaty.

Cabinet Ministers Defer Their Salary Increment Joins President Mutharika and Vice President Chilima

Cabinet Ministers Defer Their Salary Increment Joins President Mutharika and Vice President Chilima

Ministers and Deputy Misters have deferred their recent revealed salary increment until the economy is normalized but are firm that they will not demand their arrears.

Minister of Finance Economic Planning and Development Honorable Goodall Gondwe announced the development on Thursday evening in Lilongwe and said the cabinet minister’s decision was consensus.

“Following the decision by the President and the Vice President to forgo their salary increment, the Ministers and Deputy Ministers also have met and decided that they too in solidarity with the President and Vice President will not receive salary increment provided to them until the economy is normalized.” Announced Gondwe who was accompanied by Minister if Information Tourism and Culture honorable Kondwani Nankhumwa

He assured that when the economy is normalized Cabinet Ministers will not ask to have back their arrears but the envisaged salary increment will only be applicable to them when it is felt that the economy has been normalized.

Cabinet Minister decision will encourage 
Malawians that their leaders are geared 
to get economy going

Godwe said from this consensus government will save for the next duration of this financial year which began in October this year a figure “inside” K100 Million.

Though he said these savings have no power to impact on the economy but the President and his deputy together with cabinet minister decision will encourage Malawians that their leaders are geared to get economy going.

He also dispelled allegations that Ministers had received part of their salary increment from first of October as was supposed to be. He said Ministers did not get any salary increment due to administrative issue and nothing else.

The Ministers decision to defer their salary increment comes amid criticism from various organizations including Leader of Opposition and Malawi Congress Party President Honorable Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for Muthrikas decision to approve salary which he previously denied to do so on basis that the Malawi economy cannot not support it, however this time the President and his Vice have opted to suspend theirs, because again, the economy cannot support it.

It was revealed few days ago that Members of Parliament, Opposition together with Ministers and President and his deputy have 376%, 168% and 80% salary increment respectively however Minister of Finance recently clarified that this salary increment was part of salary harmonization and that current figures are mainly a reflection of amalgamated basic wage (which was very little) with some of their allowances and therefore current percentages are misleading Malawians.

Goodall Gondwe this Thursday also explained that there is no provision that salary scales should be approved by parliament as stated by Leader of the Opposition recently.

 “The only thing that the parliament does is that, inform of budget approval they approve total wage Bill for everybody that receives the salaries and wages through the budget and number 1 account what is also called consolidated account. But after that various scales that are applicable are not for the parliament to approve so the leader of opposition does not know about this but he ought to know because he must have attended the parliamentary commission.”

“The Leader of Opposition was not factual to say that the matter should have gone to parliament because that is not the rule.” Said Gondwe while maintaining his point and indicate that it is only President who has final authority of approving the salary.

Mw Govt Hits Back at Chakwera Sentiments

Mw Govt Hits Back at Chakwera Sentiments

Kondwani Nankhumwa

The Malawi Government has hit back at several sentiments that Leader of Opposition and President for Malawi Congress Party MCP made on Monday during a press briefing at its party head quarters in Lilongwe.

During the conference Chakwera said Mutharika government has failed in almost everything due to deepening sorry state of affairs of Malawi “The dark shadow of protests now hangs over the education system, the justice system, and the legislative system, and if the President is not careful, his tenure in office may be reduced to a presidency of protests.”

“Instead of solving the salary problems of teachers, civil servants, and judiciary staff within the rule of law, the President’s government chooses to distract Malawians with the revelation that effective from October 1, salaries for MPs, Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Vice President, and the President himself were increased by 376%, 168%, and 80% respectively” aid Chakwera

He denied that the increment was debated or approved in parliament but was convinced that the decision was between the President and his Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe.

Chakwera asked Mutharika to reverse decision of suspending his salary hike waiting for economy to respond because it is just creation of a perception that he is not greedy when he is just postponing the time of payment. And instead Chakwera asks Mutharika to uphold the decision he made in August not to approve salary increments.

Chakwera said government has failed 

 “I will never tire and I will never relent from speaking the truth. And here is the truth: 7 months ago, we had a childish government; Now we have an unethical government. After all, if the President rejected something as unethical in August, then approved it in September, then pretended to suspend his own decision in December, then he is a hypocrite whose government is run by distractions and deceptions, not leadership.” Said Chakwera who also asked Mutharika to resignation of if he finds it hard to end numerous challenges that Malawians are experiencing

Government statement signed by Hon Kondwani Nakhumwa Minister of Information Tourism and Culture faults Chakwera on every point “Like a Pharisee of now, Hon. Reverend Chakwera, would obviously have loved to see - as we have been instructed by his manner of effort, tone and mood - President Mutharika and his administration wear sack cloths and flagellate themselves to demonstrate that they care.”

“There will be no empty theatrical gestures or actions or pronouncements, no prancing on the stage and no flagellation, but we will simply continue to act against the suffering of our people, as decisively as we have sought and resolved to, without being seduced to do otherwise by holier than thou sentiments of those that are obsessed with the desperation of seeking cheap political capital from the sanctuaries where the untried and the untested hide, who because they are in the safety of not being in office, and who by possessing the advantage of not being on the stage of public scrutiny, pretend to be present day Messiahs with all the answers.”

The statement says Government is solving economic woes inherited six months ago among them is undertaking Public Service Reforms.

On recent announced salaries government wondered as to why MCP has taken conflicting positions because MCP spokesperson Hon Dr. Jessie Kabwila celebrated the news “and went the whole hog of justifying the salary review.”

His party not speaking with one voice

 “All the increments are according to the budget” reads the statement and asked the Opposition Leader to regularly consult with experienced MPs from his party, to help him understand how to read budget documents because he approved same figures he is attacking when he voted for the budget on the floor of the House.

“Government will not accept that the leader of the opposition should blame his ignorance on parliamentary matters on the President.” Reads the statement adding “It is nonsensical for the leader of the opposition to claim that the increments were deliberately leaked to divert people’s attention from the challenges that the country is facing because these are not new”

But the statement challenge Hon. Chakwera to use his position to respond to the President with a cross-party approach which creates a new spirit of national unity in dealing with these challenges “Let us consider the need to join hands to provide our contribution in our respective roles by placing the interest of the country above that of our own parties or politics in general.”

The statement says failure to adopt a common vocabulary will consequently be difficult to enter into the national partnership that Malawi need.

Mutharika Defers Proposed Salary Hike

Mutharika Defers Proposed Salary Hike

The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) says President Peter Mutharika, has deferred implementation of his proposed salary increment and that of the Vice President, Right Honourable Saulos Klaus Chilima, until the country’s economy recovers.

President Mutharika defers Pay Hike

“The OPC wishes to further advise that while the proposed salary increase may be justified, the President has decided to forego the increase at this time.

The President made this decision in solidarity with Malawians, who are presently undergoing very tough economic hardship.” Reads the statement dated 6^th December 

The statement says “President assures the Nation that he has people’s best interest at heart and he fully appreciates the suffering that ordinary Malawians are going through as a result of the suspension of aid by the country’s bilateral donors due to massive looting of public resources (Cashgate) at Capital Hill.”

“President Mutharika and his Government pledge to continue working tirelessly to bring the confidence of the country’s development partners back into the economy and improve the living standards of ordinary Malawians.” Says the statement signed by George Mkondiwa Chief Secretary to the government

The new salary structure was implemented from October 1, 2014, and in line with the 2014/2015 budget.

The president’s salary which remained unchanged since 2009, has 80% increment, meaning Mutharika would have been pocketing K2.7 million per month from MK1.5 million while his vice president Chilima would have been getting K1.8 million per month in addition to fuel coupons amounting to 1500 litres and will remain getting K1 million.

Dr. Lazarus Chakwera
MCP & Leader of Opposition
will also benefit from the effect
of the pay hike

 Leader of Opposition, Lazarous Chakwera whose salary is pegged at that of the cabinet ministers will together with the Ministers be getting K1 608 million K600 000 per month a 168% rise. Will also be getting fuel coupons of 1 000 litres per month and K350 000 as housing allowance.

Deputy Minister’s salaries have been raised to K800 000 from K428 000, representing 87 percent with fuel coupon of 1 000 litres and will be paid K250 000 if they are not living in a government house per month.

The parliamentarians will be getting K600 000 per month from K126 000, a 376% increment in addition to 1 000 litres of fuel per month and K350 000 as housing allowance.