Katsonga Offers “Word Of Wisdom” As House Demands Loans

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.”

Chimwendo Banda Ready To Prove Cabinet Ministers Got K5 Million OPC Loans

Hon. Chimwendo

Honorable Member for Dowa East Richard Chimwendo Banda is on Wednesday afternoon expected to bring evidence that cabinet ministers took K5 million loan from Office of President and Cabinet (OPC).

His disclosure came in the House when legislatures are demanding Government to approve their delaying General Purpose Fund (GPF) loans of K5 million each which they are supposed to repay between now and 2019. However, Government maintains that with economic challenges the country is going through, it will not be possible to approve the MPs loans.

Leader of House, George Chaponda caused hon. Chimwendo to spill the beans when Chaponda accused the opposition members being selfish for their insistence to discuss the future of their condition of service and not to deliberate on the budget.

Honorable Chimwendo Banda then told the House on Tuesday afternoon that he has evidence that all cabinet ministers got K5 million loan from OPC which includes K1 million for hotel accommodation, K1 million for furniture and another for duty free cars. He added that ministers also draw K45 thousand a day when attending Presidential function.

He therefore expressed concern that Chaponda remarks were unfair to the opposition members and had intent to create bad picture to the public that one side of the house is interested in petty issues rather than focus on national concerns.

Deputy Speaker of National Assembly, Esther Mcheka Chilenje invoked Standing Order 102 requiring the legislator to provide evidence after Minister of Labor, Youth and Man Power who is also Government Chief Whip, Henry Mussa, requested the Deputy Speaker to order the member to bring evidence.

However, several cabinet ministers stood to protest against Hon Chimwendo's alleged evidence and denied to have obtained such a loan from the OPC.

Other Cabinet Ministers including Home Affairs minister, Jappie Mhango and Health Minister, Peter Kumpalume threatened Chimwendo to provide “only evidence that proves that all” cabinet ministers took the alleged loan.

As the house was in uproar state legislator for Nkhatabay Central, Raphael Mhone rising on Point of Order brought in suggestion that OPC ought to bring the information of details of ministers who took loans since that is a public document and not to ask member for Dowa East to bring that matter in the House. This suggestion was seconded by the Kasunu East legislator, Elias Wakuda Kamanga but Deputy Speaker, Esther Chilenje never ruled on this since there was no order in the House which forced her to suspend the proceedings to allow members to sober up.

Since Monday, members from opposition side have been requesting the Minister of Finance to express himself on reasons why the legislators are not up to this day receiving their General Purpose Fund loan which includes K1 million for emergency and K3 million general purpose advance loan.

The legislators are mainly concerned that since their five year term is closer to an end obtaining such loan later and with 40 percent current rates banks are charging they will be heavily taxed.

On Tuesday, the House was suspended twice following disagreement over the same issue and Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe has been discussing with the Welfare Committee on the matter.

Govt Ministries, Departments Be Creative As Resources Continue To Dwindle

Hon. Wakuda Kaanga: Lets be creative

As Malawi continue to face economic challenges, difficult to adequately finance most Government Ministries and Departments, Kasungu North East legislator, Elias Wakuda Kamanga says Government institutions must be creative and efficient in using the limited resources to achieve high quality results.

The People’s Party legislator, hon Wakuda Kamanga was reacting to underfunding concerns being expressed by various Government Ministries and Departments pertaining to the allocations in the 2016/2017 national budget.

“You know, at a time like this when every country in the world, Malawi not being exception, where economies are not performing very well it is very dependent upon institutions across the board to begin restructuring their activities” Said Wakuda Kamanga

Hon Kamanga argued that “it doesn’t make any sense” in the face of dwindling resources to see institutions expanding in terms of activities but stressed for “serious radical transformation” that may translate how institutions work. 

Wakuda maintained that Malawi is endowed with resources but only that people are not working out ways to expand resources they have.

“I don’t agree with anybody that says Malawi has no resources this country has financial and human resources but we are mismanaging resources. We are not prioritizing very well about what is it that we should be doing. If Government can look inside itself they will definitely see that the resources are there but we need to take certain actions that can protect those resources and re-direct them to activities that would make sense to the growth of this economy.” he added

Friends Of Zomba Diocese In Colorful Sendoff Of AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator

Fr. Chimombo pose with Friends of Zomba Diocese

 

Fr. Chimombo pose with Friends of Zomba Diocese

The group of Friends of Zomba Diocese living in Lilongwe Arch Diocese, on Sunday gathered in Area 12 to sendoff Reverend Father Emmanuel Chimombo, newly appointed Pastoral Coordinator for AMECEA (Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa) who is leaving for Kenya to work at  AMECEA Secretariat.

A large crowd of Catholic faithful from Zomba Diocese organised the colorful ceremony and presented their gifts to express their happiness that a priest from home diocese has been appointed to serve the big institution in the Catholic in the region as AMECEA Pastoral Coordinator.

Friends of Zomba going to present their gifts to Fr. Chimombo

Fr. Chimombo receiving presents from Mr. Nanthambwe chairperson for Friends of Zomba Diocese

  

"We are very proud that you Fr. Chimombo, a son from Zomba diocese has been appointed as Pastoral Coordinator for AMECEA Secretariat. This is why we mobilised ourselves to hold this ceremony today to celebrate your appointment and wish you well as you go to Kenya for this new task that the Lord has given you in our church of AMECEA region." Said Mr. Stephen Nanthambwe chairperson of Friends of Zomba Diocese 

Several speakers at the event expressed their utmost excitement for this appointment and offered words of encouragement to Fr. Chimombo to continue working hard as he has been doing while working at Catholic Secretariat of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM). 

This colorful event also helped to bring together the faithful from Zomba Diocese living in Lilongwe Arch Diocese.

Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo

Fr. Chimombo glad with the presents from Friends of Zomba Diocese

In his remarks, Fr. Chimombo thanked the faithful for the support and encouraged them to pray for one another.

"Its quite a big task but with your prayers and help of God I will work well" said Fr. Chimombo while encouraging members to remain united and work together as Catholic faithful and work to continue helping the church.

Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo, a diocesan priest from Zomba diocese was consecrated priest in 1999 and comes from Mayaka Parish.

During its Ordinary Executive Board Meeting held from 19 to 20 May 2016 at the AMECEA Secretariat, Nairobi in Kenya, the AMECEA Executive Board resolved to appoint Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Chimombo from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi in the position of Pastoral Coordinator. Until his appointment, Reverend Father Chimombo was serving as the National Pastoral Secretary and Deputy Secretary General.

AMECEA is a Catholic service organization for the National Episcopal Conferences of the eight countries of Eastern Africa, namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Djibouti and Somalia are affiliate members.

2016/17 National Budget Scrutiny Ends Today

The cluster Parliamentary Committees scrutinizing the 2016/2017 Budget are finalising today analysis of budgetary allocations to various ministry's and departments.

Finance Minister, Goodall Gondwe presented K1 trillion budget on 27th May 2016 a budget which is prioritizing agriculture.

2016/2017 National Budget Trim MHRC Budget Down By Half

The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to face more challenges in the 2016-2017 financial year as the national budget has only allocated half of the amount needed by the institution this year.

MHRC submitted to treasury a planned budget of K213 million but the national budget has allocated K110 million.

The 50 percent reduction will scale down half of the planned human rights activities for this very important institution in this financial year of 2016-2017.

Grace Malera

Executive Secretary for MHRC, Grace Malera told the Cluster Committee on Authorities and Public Appointments which is scrutinizing the budget that this is “a record low” funding to the institution comparing to the previous budgetary allocations.

According to Malera, there are several implications to this reduction. She says the office will scale down crucial activities including Investigations, research and advocacy and education relating to ongoing attacks and killings of persons with albinism.

Even the construction project of MHRC long waited regional office in the Northern Region will continue to remain a dream as again this year, there is no allocation to that budget.

“The people in the northern region are people too, they are human beings and they have got human rights. So, this national body, the Human Rights Commission has got to reach out to them but this is one of the implications.” Says Malera who laments that MHRC activities in the north are experiencing number of problems due to lack of regional office

Malera also informed the parliamentary committee that with this reduction, MHRC will fail to hire new officers and solve office space problem. She told the committee that MHRC currently has 60 members of staff but requires 144 members of staff and that this financial year it plans to recruit 16 staff.

She further disclosed that MHRC has eight old vehicles but the budget has again failed to allocate money for the procurement of new vehicles and that this is a perennial issue which is again putting MHRC in mobility challenge situation when reaching out to communities across the country.

Among others Malera informed committee that MHRC is yet to receive from treasury, part of 2015-2016 budgetary allocation which is worrisome as there are only few weeks before the 2015-2016 financial year comes to an end.

“Whatever we are going to receive from July onwards, if it is going to come at the level of reduction of 50 percent, means the number of areas that we would have wanted to reach out to are going to happen at a lessened level.” Said Malera

Chairperson for the Cluster Committee on Authorities and Public Appointments, Hon. Lilian Patel, observed with concern that MHRC problems have remained the same for years now and that what the institution is asking Government this year were very same things that were asked previous years.

Patel then pleaded with the treasury to consider raising the allocation to the MHRC for it to fulfill its constitutional mandate of promoting human rights in the country.

However, in her response, Deputy Budget Director, Loyce Chilimsungwi maintained that it will be difficult to revise upwards the allocation to MHRC because the major hiccup in Government is resource availability.

“We don’t have enough in the basket” maintains Chilimsungwi