House Approves US$ 23.5M Loan To Improve Water Supply For Blantyre City

No more dry taps

Problems of intermittent water supply facing Blantyre City will soon come to an end with the passing of US$ 23. 5 million loan for the purpose of putting water infrastructure at Mulanje Mountain to supply water to Blantyre city residents.

On Monday afternoon, the National Assembly approved Bill No. 15 of 2016: Export-Import Bank of India Loan Authorisation authorizing Government to get money for improving water provision in Blantyre city including some rural areas in Mulanje and Thyolo.

Parliament Pass 2016/17 Appropriation Bill, Customs & Excise, Taxation Bills

On Friday, the National Assembly passed Bill No. 27 of 2016 Appropriation following passing of the 2016/17 National Budget by the House on Thursday night.

The House pass Appropriation bill without debate and amendment to formally allow Government to appropriate resources in form of taxes for the resources to fund the activities of the Government.

Low Paid Civil Servants To Get A Raise

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development has increased budgetary allocation to the Department of Human Resource Management and Development with K7.7 billion in order to allow lower paid workers in civil service to get better salaries. 

Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe told the National Assembly during the Committee of Supply before the passing of 2016/17 budget that the increment has been made to avert possible strike if workers continue to get little salaries. 

CDF Allocation Increased To K18 Million Per Constituency

There was jubilation in the National Assembly during Committee of Supply when Finance Minister, Goodall Gondwe announced that Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to each constituency has been increased to K18 million from K12 million.

CDF is under National Local Government Finance Committee budgetary vote and Members of Parliament were proposing increment of K20 million allocation per each constituency from K12 million. 

But the Gondwe earlier told House that Government was willing to raise CDF per each constituency from K12 million to K15 Million. However, the Finance Minister motion was defeated and the Committee of Supply deferred the vote forcing the Minister to make further consultation. 

2016/17 Budget Increased To K1.149 Trillion Now Passed

Goodall: Presented Budget on 27 May 2016

The 2016/17 National Budget has been passed on Thursday night by the National Assembly but the budget figure has now been increased to K1. 149 trillion from K1.140 trillion following the introduction of new budgetary allocation vote for the Greenbelt Initiative and increment made to Department of Human Resource Management and Development by K7.7 billion

Greenbelt Initiative which has just been created by Government is a new vote which has received an allocation of K300 million. It was omitted on the Order Paper until it appeared on Thursday night when Government presented Supplementary Order Paper.

National Assembly Budget Increased by K1 billion

Minister of Finance has increased the National Assembly budgetary vote by K1 billion after legislators had on Monday deferred the vote saying it was insufficient to enable committees of the House to carryout their oversight roles.

The National Assembly vote was initially allocated with K9. 410 billion and with the change the vote has increased to K10. 410 billion.

Water Scarcity Hits Parliament: Force Early Adjournment

Deputy Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly, Esther Mcheka Chilenje on Wednesday evening adjourned the House earlier than agreed time citing health grounds as taps runs dry at the Parliament.

The adjournment that happened at 18:44 hours left Leader of House, George Chaponda and his fellow cabinet ministers gob smacked as it happened just after Government had successfully won the motion to extend the sitting time for the Committee of Supply to last night hours.

FISP Allocation Increased By K3.5 Billion

Government has increased budgetary allocation to the Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) with K3.5 billion raising the figure from initial K31. 4 billion to K34.9 billion.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development informed the Committee of Supply that the increment has been made following increase in the market price of fertilizer commodity.

Govt Punishes MPs; Worked Till Night On Tuesday

Leader of House in the National Assembly, George Chaponda on Tuesday forced Members of Parliament to work till the night hours following prolonged debates that caused delays in passing the budgetary allocation made to each various Government ministries and departments.

Normally, the National Assembly is adjourned at 17:00 hours each sitting day, however, this was not the case on Tuesday as the House sitting hours were extended till late in order to recover the lost time during the day.

Govt Allocates K500 Thousand To Prisons For Agriculture, Expansion Of Cells

Prisons will in the 2016/17 financial year receive K500 thousand for the agriculture to enable prisoners produce food for themselves and for the buying of some few building materials to support the expansion of prison cells.

Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Goodall Gondwe indicated that the allocation is seed money to be shared by most of the country’s prisons to enable them buy fertilizer to support their farming activities and to enable the most congested prisons particularly Maula Prison in Lilongwe to procure construction materials like cement to support the expansion of cells.

Legislators Wants Wants National Assembly Budget Increased To K12 Billion

The Parliamentarians welcomes Finance Minister's decision to defer national budget allocation of K9.410 billion for the National Assembly to allow further consultation as the House wants the allocation raised to K12 billion.

As the House began Committee of Supply where the whole House is considering and passing the budget votes for 2016/17, Legislators have argued that K9.4 billion it is not enough to allow the committees of the House to play oversight function on several issues including that Government is promising Malawians.

Govt Okay MPs General Purpose Fund Loan Implementation

Negotiations on the implementation for the General Purpose Fund (GPF) loans of Members of Parliament are finally over as Government has accepted full implementation of the loans, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning confirm.

A welfare committee has been negotiating with Government through minister of Finance on implementation of the personal loan facility amounting to K5 Million for each Member of Parliament, a package which includes funds for motor vehicle, general purpose funds and emergency.

Government Ready With Penal Code Amendment That Covers A lot On Albino Attacks

Samuel Tembenu

The Malawi Government says the reviewed penal code bill that broadly tackles the issues of ritual abductions and killings of persons with albinism will be brought to the National Assembly very soon before the ongoing meeting of the House comes to an end.

Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs, Samuel Tembenu said in an interview that the review process of the penal code has come to an end and this bill will bring the real change in terms of the prosecution of the cases relating to the abductions and killings of persons with albinism unlike the Anatomy Amendment Act which has been passed solely for strengthen sentences.

Anatomy Act Amendment Passing Excites Kalindo; This Is Beginning For Death Penalty

Kalindo

The Mulanje South Legislator, Bon Kalindo has described passing of the Anatomy Amendment Act which is calling for life sentences to convicts guilty of possession of albino tissues and body parts as "battle well fought" and "victory" for him and all Malawians.

"This is a total victory not to me alone, but to all Malawians because this is what we have been waiting for, all along." Said Kalindo

He said the total support given to the bill by all members of Parliament is a clear indication that Malawians are tired and want to end the heinous crimes of abductions and killings of persons with albinism in the country.

House Adjourned With Drama

Kalindo started it 

Having passed the Anatomy Act Amendment bill on Thursday, the Malawi National Assembly adjourned to this Friday morning in a very dramatic way.

Immediately after Anatomy Amendment was passed, Hon. Bon Kalindo, rising on point order requested the Speaker to ask Minister of Transport and Public Works on issues happening at Road Traffic Department. 

But before he could finish informing the Speaker of what exactly is happening at the department, Speaker, Richard Msowoya interrupted the legislator to correct him that what he was bringing in the House was not Point of Order. This made the members to laugh 

Parliament Pass Anatomy Act Amendment: Impose Life Sentences, No Fines

Malawians took to the streets demanding death
Penalty 

Anatomy Act Amendment bill seeking Life Imprisonment has been passed by the National Assembly almost 5 hours after Mulanje South legislator, Bon Kalindo led hundreds to present petition to the National Assembly demanding activation of Death Penalty to convicts on offences related to albino killings.

There was cheers and clapping of hands in the House, showing excitement that finally Malawi will stop ritual killings of persons with albinism through life sentences.

Dowa East legislator, Richard Chimwendo Banda presented the Bill under Private Members Bill to amend Anatomy Act (Cap 34:03) so as to make the commission of offences therein punitive and deterrent.

People Of Kasungu East Want Death Penalty For Albino Killers

Calls for death penalty continues in the National Assembly with latest being Kasungu East legislator who has openly told the House that himself and the entire people of his constituency wants eye for an eye for those perpetrating albino attacks and killings in the country.

Honorable Madalitso Kazombo when contributing to the debate on the motion of State of the National Address delivered by President Peter Muthatika, said appropriate deterrent factor to the unending killings and attacks of persons with albinism would be death penalty.

House Adopts Motion To Allow Water Boards Drill, Manage Boreholes In Rural Areas

Jumbe: brought the motion

The Malawi National Assembly has adopted a motion that will enable Water Boards provide water to rural areas through drilling and management of boreholes.

Salima Central legislator, Felix Jumbe presented the motion seeking amendment of Water Works Act of 1995 of Act No. 17 Section 6 which gives Water Boards jurisdiction to do all water works management and distribution in designated urban areas.

Malawi Parliament Adopts Hemp Cultivation Motion

How Malawi Economy Wins Through Industrial Hemp

Industrial Hemp Farm

In a historic way, the Malawi National Assembly on Thursday, 16^th June 2016, adopted a motion legalizing the cultivation of the Industrial Hemp for its economic and health benefits.

Ntchisi North Legislator, Boniface Kadzamira presented the motion which has been appearing in the Order Paper since in February this year but the motion failed to be debated.

2016/17 Budget Sidelines People Of Rumphi- Kamlepo

Kamlepo: Nothing for Rumphi

Rumphi North Legislator says there is no important allocation in the 2016/17 national budget that can make people of Rumphi district smile and ‘they wonder if they are indeed Malawians.’ 

Kalua said people of Rumphi are not benefiting from this year’s budget and most of the promised and long waited projects have no budget allocation this year.

“I have in mind here, several projects in my constituency and Rumphi as a district” recollect Kaulua when contributing to 2016/17 financial year Budget Motion on Wednesday evening 

He mentioned Njakwa-Livingstonia-Chitipa road and Rumphi Teachers Training College projects that have not received any budgetary allocation regardless promises by Government to begin construction of the two projects. Then he mentioned Rumphi District Hospital which he said has no allocation for operations.

“I have again in mind, Chiweta-Mulowe Musarawe road which has not been even given a priority by Government even to a gravel standard. And nobody, am talking about the Government, is talking about it. 

So, the people of Rumphi East are wondering whether we are Malawians or we belong to this country.” He inquired

Kalua [left] covered face to show disappointment with 2015/16 Budget 

Honorable Kalua even mentioned that Government Ministers continue to refuse setting foot in his area to appreciate number of projects him and communities are doing for themselves so that Government can help where they need help. On this he mentioned projects on girl child education for secondary school girls as well as hospital project at Paramawe in Chiweta clinic. He further mentioned a 25 year old Jarawe Health Centre which has health facility problems since it is not enjoying help from Government. 

He said Jarawe, Chitimba, Mulowe and Sarawe Community Day Secondary schools do not even desks have “Students are sitting on the floor.” He said, “Yet we are talking about 2016/17 national budget when these people are not enjoying anything.”

“Again, I want to appeal to the Government to seriously consider Rumphi-Nyika-Chitipa road, because this is a very important road for tourism and forex. If we can open up this corridor people will benefit and the country as a whole will benefit because these people will be bringing in forex.”  He said 

“People of Rumphi they are part of Malawi and we want the Government as you always say, DPP is the listening Government, to listen to their cries, to listen to their appeal, to listen to whatever that they are asking Government to do so that they also feel that they are part and parcel of this country.” Concluded Kamlepo