Secondary, University Fees Motion To Affect Access To Quality Education Among Poor

Kasaila

Government says students from poor families are the victims of the recent National Assembly resolution which is stopping Secondary schools and Universities from implementing new fees regime.

On Thursday, Salima Central legislature, Felix Jumbe made proposal that the House resolves postponement of recently announced fees hike in Secondary schools and Universities since the majority in rural areas cannot afford due to current economic problems. 

Minister of Transport who is also leader of House in the National Assembly, Francis Kasaila said in an interview that, the implementation of the resolution will frustrate Government efforts of providing quality education in Public schools to enable students from poor families access to quality education. 

Kasaila said the decision to hike fees in Public secondary schools and Public Universities was meant to improve quality of education through cost sharing so that Schools are able to provide necessary learning and teaching materials.

"Government is saying; we need to provide quality education to the students who are coming from the poor families, and to do that we need to raise resources so that we improve on the quality of education.” Said Kasaila

All of them (Legislatures) who were talking there, have their children in private schools. They don’t have their children in Public schools. Why? Because the quality of education there is poor.” He said

Kasaila therefore emphasized that although the National Assembly resolution seem to be helping the poor, but the decision will prevent students especially children from poor from access to quality education in public schools which they rely on.

He noted that the argument that was brought in the House could have helped poor if it looked at how Government can support the needy students so that with effects of newly introduced fees they do not fail to pursue on their studies. 

“In fact Government is providing bursary to such needy students.” He said 

He also indicated that it is surprising that some students that are said to have been affected by new fees regime are former students from High Schools where student pay a minimum of half a million Kwacha fees but find it expensive and fail to pay K30 thousand or K250 thousand fees charging Public secondary schools and universities respectively.

"Unfortunately, we know because of politics people want to be seen that they stand for the poor but the fact is, the poor want quality education, not just education" said Kasaila

National Assembly Leadership Worried Over Absenteeism

Chakwera

Leadership from Government and the Opposition sides in the National Assembly has pleaded with legislatures to stop growing tendency of absconding daily business in the House.

The just ended First Meeting of 46th Session of National Assembly was characterized by absenteeism more especially from the Government side of the House.

Kasaila

Leader of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera in his remarks on Friday, before the House adjourned sine die emphasized that in future Meetings the House should rise above lack of respect and great absenteeism.

"Everyone contribution is important and we represent people out there and we want to be able to make sure that when the decisions are being made the whole House makes those decisions because everyone is participating." Said Chakwera in an interview 

The Opposition Leader also lamented the confusion and misinterpretation of the House Standing Orders. He therefore underlined the need for the House to strictly adhere to the Standing Orders and the Decorum standards in future Sessions.

He said; "We should adhere more to our own Standing Orders and where those orders need fine tuning Legal Affairs Committee are to be able to do that because we must maintain the fact that all time is for us and time is not only money time is holy. We must treat it the way it is. We will not pass through this time again, we need to serve Malawians the best we can with sacrifices if needed"

Chakwera had also in his speech proposed for full business day deliberations on Monday and Wednesdays to enable productive deliberations as most business continue to be left out.

Chakwera concerns on absenteeism were also echoed by Leader of the House, Francis Kasaila. He said; "We wished averyone was available the reason we come here is to represent our people from the constituencies that we are coming from."

He said full and daily participation of the business of the House is essential because members could have very good ideas and altenative views from their constituencies for Government consideration.

"Indeed if honorable member decides not to be available in the House what would mean is Government would not get that kind of advice and the views that are coming from that sector of the community. And that is very regretable" said Kasaila

While emphasising that absenteeisim must stop, Kasaila indicated that the House will continue to always encourage the membership of the House to prioritise the business of the House.

Directorate To Civic Educate Listed Public Officers On Asset Declaration Process

Christopher Tukula

The office of the Director for Public Officers Asset Declaration says it faced number of problems in 2014 during the Initial Asset Declarations process, as new Government financial year is to begin in July next year, the office is making some early preparations for the Annual Declaration Update Excercise.

The Directorate of Asset Declaration says is geared to intensify civic education of the Asset Declaration Process among listed officers in preparation for the commencement of annual update to the declared assets.

Director of Asset Declaration Christopher Tukula disclosed that the directorate wants to begin the exercise very early starting this year so that listed officers should not have problems when they start to submit forms of updates to their declared assets in July next year.

Tukula says this early preparations follows the hurdles the process of asset declaration faced in 2014 when the officers were for the first time declaring their assets.

Tukula said“We want to improve on the performance of the last time whereby we want to intensify civic education of the asset declaration process. We have lined up series of briefing meetings with public officers and we are going to distribute the blank declaration forms directly to all the listed public officers." 

"Last time people were looking around for the forms own their own. For now we are going to issue them with copy of their declaration and blank declaration forms  and are going to use this for the purpose of giving an update to their declarations in July next year.” explains Tukula

He indicated that the receipt of declarations is an annual exercise under the act and that from 1st July next year the office will be receiving declarations from public officers as an update of what they had disclosed last year.

The Assets Declarations Directors said his office is notifying the listed officers along way before hand in order for the Directorate to have an ample time to extensively engage all public officers on the declaration process and enhance the civic education component of the process prior to the statutorily defined submission dates.

In readiness, the directorate says distribution of Copies of Initial Declaration and Blank Annual Declarations and briefing meetings are among the lined up activities.

The Initial Declaration is statutorily followed by Annual Declaration update return that is filed within thirty days after the commencement of each fiscal year.

He said each officer will be required to submit a duly completed, signed and commissioned Annual Declaration Form as an update return to the Initial Declaration which was already submitted. He said the submission shall commence on Friday, 1st July 2016 to Sunday, 31st July, 2016.  

Currently, 10, 200 (ten thousand two hundred) listed public officers who were serving in various positions when the Act became effective on 1st July 2014 submitted their Initial Declarations between 1st October and 31st December 2014. 

The receipt of Initial Declarations is ongoing for all public officers being appointed or promoted into listed positions.

The office of the Director of Public Officer’s Asset Declaration began its operations in August 2014. The overall objective of the declaration regime is to promote public confidence in the public service. The office was set up following passing of the Declaration of Assets, Liabilities and Business Interests Act of 2013.

Asset Declaration Directorate Rollout Physical Verification Of Asset

Christopher Tukula

Physical Verification Exercise of initial declarations submitted by listed public officers to begin 14th December, 2015, announces the Office of the Director of Public Officer’s Declarations.

The office also announces launch of full Public Access to Declarations on 14th December 2015 and rolling out of preparatory exercise of collecting updates to initial declarations scheduled for 1st July to 31st July 2016.

Christopher Tukula, Director of Public Officers Declarations disclosed this in Lilongwe 

“We now announce the rolling out of the Physical Verification exercise” announced Tukula

He said every public officer designated for the physical verification shall be notified in writing in advance. He said from that date the directorate starts conducting a risk based and purposively sampled physical verification exercise of initial declarations submitted by public officers. 

“This Physical Verification Exercise will involve comparing the data in the forms with data in various public agencies and private entities to check authenticity of, veracity and accuracy.” Said Tukula

He mentioned that among the public and private institutions to cross check the data are Local Government Council registries, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Malawi Housing Corporation, Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services, Financial Institutions, Malawi Revenue Authority and any other relevant institutions.

“It shall also involve visiting sites for inspection and assessment of declared movable and immovable properties whenever necessary” added Tukula while indicating that this will be done by professionals

The Director of Asset Declaration indicated that this programme is an ongoing for all the declarations. He further mentioned that the directorate has already completed the formal check and desk analysis of all declarations in readiness for the exercise.

The directorate has also urged the general public to alert (whistleblower) the office of any listed public officer violating asset declaration provisions which includes submission of false or inaccurate declaration and that the whistleblower identity will be protected in accordance with relevant provisions of the law governing declaration regime.

Full Public Access to Declarations 

The Directorate says the Public Access to Declaration platform of all listed officers is beginning 14th December 2015 now open to public upon application to Director. Tukula said the directorate has compiled a data base upon which the public access platform has been developed

“So all categories are now under the Public Access Platform.” He said

The platform was initially operational for officers in the Political (party leaders and their treasurer generals) and elected officers (Presidency, 196 Legislatures and 426 Councilors) category since March 2014.

Now the office says starting on 7th December which is Monday next week the office is rolling out Public Access Platform to the rest of the listed officers. In March this year opened up a Public Access Platform where members of public could go and access to declarations of various public officers. It first started with political and elected officers comprising of Presidency, legislatures and Ward councilors.

He asked members of public, media and CSO’s to utilize Public Access Platform so that people can access the declaration and compare what they know about the officers and report (whistleblowing) if there is any discrepancy.

"We are encouraging the public to utilize this platform so that you can inform the directorate of any abuse of the Act by listed public officer.

No information relating to whistleblower shall be admitted in evidence in any administrative, civil or criminal proceedings, and no person shall be obliged or permitted to disclose the name or address of such whistleblower, or state any matter which might lead to his or her discovery" assured Tukula

He also said there will be outreach civic education clinics aimed at sensitise the public role of to support the directorate 

Promised ATI, Land Bills Never Came In The House- Complains Chakwera As National Assembly Adjourns Sine-Die

Chakwela

Leader of Opposition in National Assembly and President for the country's main opposition party, Lazarus Chakwera, says the First Meeting of the 46th Session of the National Assembly  has come to an end without deliberating the much awaited bills.

He also bemoaned that there has been a lot of business that should have been considered on the order paper.

Chakwera said in his speech before the House adjourned sine die,that the House hoped “for a vibrant debate on the Access to Information (ATI) bill particularly after being assured by the Country’s leadership to have the bill and some land bills tabled.

“But we had hope that all other bills that we had been promised would have also been tabled in order for us to tell the world and us Malawians that we want to be a country that is accountable that is transparent in all our dealings and that’s the reason that Access to Information Bill is some kind of disappointment not to have it tabled.” he said

”We look forward to enacting badly needed legislation on reforms, ATI among others for all of us to better serve Malawians experiencing terrible inequalities in economic, agriculture, education health, politics. These disparities must be dealt with."

Chakwera expressed hope that ATI and Land bills that were promised prior to the just ended Meeting that will be brought to the Business Committee of the Houses will be made available during the Second Meeting expected in February next year. 

"So we are trusting that the midyear review will bring many of these pieces of legislation to be discussed in the chamber.” hoped Chakwera

However, the opposition leader, noted that the house managed to consider some business which he think have given hope to Malawians. He mentioned issues of hunger situation and preparation for the farming season, education and health issues as some of the isues that the House consodered and placed much focus because they needed serious attention.

Francis Kasaila

Moving motion that the House adjourn Sine Die, Leader of House Francis Kasaila said the Meetings deliberations went on smoothly against early speculations that there would be inside fighting.

“I believe that looking at the amount of work that has been dealt with I can say without fear of contradiction that I think we have done a good job.” Said Kasaila 

He, however acknowledged existence of areas that need improvement and promised as leaders of the House to endeavor to improve in the subsequent meetings of the House.

Speaking of what transpired for four weeks since the Opening of the First Meeting by President Peter Mutharika with State of the National Adress delivered on Friday 6th November 2015, Kasaila said 6 Ministerial statements were delivered in the House and 2 remains on the Order Paper.

He among others said two public petitions (from University Students Leadership and Civil Society Organisations on Health) were delivered to the House and that 9 bills were passed.

Bills Passed During First Meeting Of 46th Session of National Assembly 

1. Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Amendment Bill) passed on Wednesday 11th November 215.
2. Estate Duty (Amendment Bill) passed on Monday 16th November 2015
3. International Development Association (Southern Africa Trade and Transport Programme Phase 2)  Loan Authorization Bill passed on Tuesday 17th November 2015
4. Credit Reference Bureau (Amendment Bill) passed on Tuesday 17th November 2015
5. Insolvency passed on Wednesday 18th November 2015
6. Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply passed on Monday 23rd November 2015
7. European Investment Bank (Upgrading of Aviation Safety Equipment at Kamuzu and Chileka International Airports Project Loan Authorization Bill passed on Monday 30th November 2015
8. OPEC Fund for International Development (Mzimba Integrated Urban Water and Sanitation Project Loan Authorization Bill) passed on Tuesday 1st December 2015 and 
9. African Development Bank Mzimba Integrated Urban Water and Sanitation Project Loan Authorization Bill passed on Tuesday 1st December 2015

Three bills have since been referred to the Parliamentary Committees for Further scrutiny

1. Metrology Bill on Monday 23rd November 2015 the House resolved to refer the Report of the Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism on this bill back to the Committee for refinement
2. Payment Systems Bill which was referred to the Budget Committee on Monday 23rd November 2015 and 
3. Electronic Transaction Bill which was referred to the Committee on Media, Information and Communication on Wednesday 25th November 2015

The leader hoped that the concerned committees will be ready with their reports for presentation to the House during the next Meeting of Parliament likely to be held in February 2016.

National Assembly Resolution Stoping Secondary, University Fees Hike Ends In Legal Dilema

The National Assembly on Thursday moved a motion stopping the new fees regime in Secondary Schools and Universities.

However, it remains uncertain if the decision is likely to take effect due to legality of the action and its acceptance by the Government Executive.

Salima Central legislature, Felix Jumbe made proposal that the House resolves postponement of recently announced fees hike in Secondary schools and Universities since the majority in rural areas cannot afford them due to current economic problems. 

"Considering that the majority, especially those in the rural areas are facing economic hardships responding to the poor macro-economic situation, the House resolves that school fees hike for both Secondary and Universities be postponed until Government endeavors to improve the income per capita of the people”  said Jumbe when moving the motion.

Several members who contributed on the floor from opposition side including Jessie Kabwila said the hiking of fees is likely to undermine girls education. She said it was wrong to introduce such fees in the year people are facing hunger. She therefore maintained that this will encourage prostitution among girls from poor families and early pregnancies, increase in school dropouts.

Kabwila further said this fruastrates government efforts of promoting girl child education and empowerment because most of the rural households cannot afford current exorbitant of fees.

Machinga East legislature Esther Jolobala described the hiking of fees at this time as “most horrible Christmas package” and that government was blind when making the decision.

Jolobala "blind government" remarks were withdrawn when the Speaker considered them as unparliamentary even if she used them figuratively. Her remarks also stunned government bench where the independent legislature is seats. However, in her introductory remarks had indicated that she was going to speak what is good for Malawians and not because of which side in the House she belongs to.

Later the house made a resolution that there be postponement of the hiking of fees but with much opposition by Government bench.

In an interview, Salima Central legislature, Felix Jumbe said the decision means Government will have to postpone the hiking of fees at this time being a year the country is facing numerous problems.

“We are not saying that the Government should not increase but for this year they need to postpone until the economic situation of the people has improved." He said 

"Poverty is ruling this country, there is dire poverty which is visible everywhere you go. Majority of household have no means to make money, it is difficult even to get K5 thousand. People are struggling even to get maize from ADMARC depots.

In my constituency for example at Mtonga Market, I found a queue of people with small plates in their hands waiting to buy maize and this maize they are waiting to buy is only a 2kg. and these are people buying 2kg they are six in their family but they don’t have money. And now can we say pay school fees? That would be like we are bringing second colonialism to these people and this colonialism by fellow African. And that is why we are saying please postpone the hike of school fees.” Said Jumbe

However, this is different from how Government views the decision. 

Leader of House, Francis Kasaila maintains the debate was unlawful as the House in its resolution has decided to override laws that are outside it mandate.


He said to say that the House has postponed the fees regime will "depends" on ones interpretations on that. "The question are that, does the House have mandate to decide how much for example the Catholic University supposed to be charging? Do they have their own mandate which guides that? Similarly we have a lot of private schools in the country, Kamuzu Academy for example. Can the Assembly decide how much Kamuzu Academy should be charging? These are questions that have to be answered.

Probably lawyers will do their work to   and decide whether this is enforceable or not” said Kasaila

Although Kasaila said the resolution will be considered by the President and its cabinet after thorough consultation but said could not determine what would be a likely decision.


He even questioned legality of brining the motion in the House

“All the standing orders were violated. It is very clear that a motion according to standing orders, was supposed to be debated by the Business Committee first before it is presented in the House. That was not done.

I don’t believe the speaker has powers to vary any of our standing orders own his own. That was supposed to be done in the Chamber. A motion should have been put to say we want to vary this because it did not meet this requirement that was not done but they decided to proceed. 

What was done was all irregular” Said Kasaila

“Unfortunately we know, because of politics people want to be seen that they stand for the poor " He added

This matter faced rejection by Government MP’s and several attempts to bar the motion already appearing on the Order Paper from being discussed were made by the Leader of House, Francis Kasaila who insisted that the matter was brought illegally and was never authorized by the Business Committee of the House.

To the contrary, the matter was well received by two major opposition parties in the House PP and MCP who insisted to debate although it was brought with immediate notice since it was a matter of urgency.

Ealier to end the matter, Second Deputy Speaker Clement Chiwaya resolved that Business Committee of the House should meet and suspended proceedings.

Back from the emergency meeting, Kasaila insisted before Speaker Richard Msowoya that Government was against the debate on the motion citing that apart from irregularities over how the issue was brought, the Houses was also not mandated to decide on school fees for private institutions as the motion did not specific that the matter was for only Public schools.

Although the speaker to ruled that the matter be discussed but Justice and Constitution Affairs Minister Samuel Tembenu did indicate and insisted that the matter was outside constitutional mandate of the House to debate on the issue which was clear that the authority to decide on school fees vests in the bodies of the schools as stipulated in the Act and regulations that govern the Schools.

Malata, Cement Subsidy Programme To Reach 15,000 Houses By April

Atupele Muluzi

Government expects to reach a record of Fifteen Thousand , Four Hundred and Forty houses by April next year through the decent and affordable housing programme.

Atupele Muluzi, Minister of Lands and Housing said during his ministerial statement in the National Assembly on the Decent and Affordable Housing: Cement and Malata Subsidy Programe that 6900 houses are at different levels of construction across the country 

“And as am speaking the number is growing up each and every day” he added

Speaking about some details of the programme, Muluzi said Government is in the process of capturing data to enable proper identification of the location of each beneficiary and that the data base will be ready by this month.

Hon. Atupele indicated that as the first phase of the project is near completion by the month of April in 2015 the Minister said he anticipate the number to reach 15, 440 houses.

Muluzi greeting beneficiary before interview 

His statement was brought in the update legislatures on what has been achieved, explain to Malawians what the programme seeks to do so as to end some understanding that people have pertaining the programme as well as dispel some misleading statements. 

Muluzi also pledge to present additional data to the house of all houses to be constructed under the programme in order to comply to achieve transparency and accountability.

Muluzi who brought beneficiary families to the Parliament from M’bwatalika in Lilongwe, said the Programe is also changing people’s lives.

However the statement was welcomed with mixed views especially from the opposition parties. Among them was Salima West Legislature, Jessie Kabwila, who expressed dissatisfaction with the information from the minister for lacking transparency and accountability on the names of the contractors working in the supply of the materials for the programme.

“The minister instead of him telling us the status of subsidy transparently, expose who are the people getting the contracts there who is trading. Because we all know there is set of people, we hear names like the Mulli’s and whoever is there.” He said 

He said the programme is not benefiting all Malawians and bringing to parliament five families was cheep politics.

“People are suffering in this country. Instead of coming when you know that this programme is being used to politicize this country and siphon government money to be used for the political party purposes, you come here and said I have brought five people the programme is working, No!”

“We are saying tell us how many people have benefited, and tell us who is trading? Because we want is that there should be equity.”

He said the programme is happening in her constituency but people in her area says would rather have had a much more constituency wide response to housing.

He also said the figures of the subsidy beneficiaries they don’t agree with calculations that they should have reached this far.

“So we would like to know what is happening to part of the money you already received. So it’s an issue of fiscal discipline. Remember we are in the country that is where it is especially because of Cahsgate 

What we want to make sure is that we don’t have this cashgate going on and then we wake up five years from today.” She said