Be Patient Access to Information Bill will be introduced in next sessions- Mutharika

Be Patient Access to Information Bill will be introduced in next sessions- Mutharika

President Professor Peter Mutharika says his government will introduce Access to Information Bill in the upcoming National Assembly Sessions because the current 3rd Meeting of National Assembly has already lined up other bills.

Mutharika was speaking to Journalist in Lilongwe at Kamuzu Palace upon return from AU summit.

He said it is not possible that current Meeting of National Assembly which is to sit for only three weeks to debate on all government proposed legislations in one session.

"We cannot introduce all the laws in one session of parliament. It also should be known that there are other four major bills lined up for debate

during the current sitting" he among them mentioned Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill of 2015, Trafficking in Persons Bill and the bill which is to regulate Sachets liquor.

Mutharika said "We will not be able to finish all those, if we don't we have another session. Next session there will be other bills. Access to information bill will be coming up" adding that journalist should be patient as his five years tenure of office his government pass lot of bills.

"I can assure you that we are committed to access to information, we are committed to freedom of press.." Adding that his government has also opened up the state broadcaster for everyone.

Pres Mutharika Pleads With Parliamentary Striking Workers; Back to Work Pending Ongoing Negotiations

Pres Mutharika Pleads With Parliamentary Striking Workers; Back to Work Pending Ongoing Negotiations

President Professor Peter Mutharika has expressed hope that the solution will soon be reached on the demands being made by the striking staff at the National Assembly.

National Assembly staff have began their strike on Tuesday morning demanding 24% pay increment as was approved by the Parliamentary Service Commission 

Speaking at a press conference held at Kamuzu Palace on Tuesday evening where he was informing the media about his trip to Addis Ababa, for the 24th Session of the Summit of the African Union, president Mutharika said as negotiations continue on the staff demands there is need for all workers to go back to work pending on going discussions.

President Mutharika said he is well informed that the Parliament workers were offered similar pay hike just like all other workers in civil service for example he said "a Clerk of Parliament would get similar salary just like any other PS (Principle Secretary)" in any other Government  Ministry is getting.

The President also indicated that in the morning of Tuesday he sent a message to the speaker that it is important that the workers go back to work as government and team from National Assembly continues with discussions. Mutharuka also expressed hope that the ongoing negotiations will be in good faith but repeated that just like all other workers in civil service, offer made previously by government to parliament workers was normal as government continue with the process of salary harmonisation.

However, President for the Parliamentary Staff Union Leonard Tilingamawa said they will end their strike only if the Treasury will bow to their demands.

Parliament At Standstill: Staff on Strike

Parliament At Standstill

All staff at Malawi National Assembly have began strike demanding government to honor their demand of 24% pay hike.

Workers are outside playing various games including football and many of them dressed in red clothing.

Loud music being played from the speakers outside the National Assembly.

President for the Parliamentary Staff Union Leonard Tilingamawa in an interview said "Government is not meeting our demands we submitted our conditions of services after an approval by Parliamentary Service Commission of 24% as an average. When that was submitted to Treasury there they said could not effect that and they gave us 10% so we refused that offer and on yesterday they came back with a proposal of 18% and we are saying we don't want the 18% they are offering us." He said

The situation has forced members of parliament to go back home. But it is not known of the National Assembly is to meet this afternoon.

All parliament doors including Ministers entrance are closed leaving only the main entrance into the national assembly but no one is allowed to enter into the Parliament.

"I've been in Parliament for 25 years I have never seen this embarrassment this shows that government ignores other arms of government and they don't care listen to demands by government staff." Said Uladi Mussa a Leader of Peoples Party in Parliament

No More Importation, Exportation of Round Wood

Stakeholders appearing before Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change have imposed a ban effective Monday 2nd February 2015 on Round Wood one of the endangered species.

The ban also suspends the licenses people used in importation and exportation of Round Wood from Zambia and from any other country.

Cash gate Suspect Namata Wants to Restitute money

Cash gate Suspect Namata Wants to Restitute money

The convicted Maxwell Namata in a case of theft and money laundering of up to K24.1 million is in a process of giving back the stolen money.

The Lilongwe High Court on Wednesday 21 January found guilty two Cashgate suspects Maxwell Namata guilty of money laundering and theft of K14.4 million from the said K24.1 million and co-accused Luke Kasamba was found guilty of laundering the full K24.1 million.

Lawyer for Namata Wapona Kita who was on Monday supposed to present defense submissions on sentencing, told the court that "There are some facts not ready with us" and asked for 10 days to submit them.

But the High Court judge Justice Anabel Mtalimanja gave the defense two days and adjourned the matter to Wednesday 4th February, for the defense to submit their prepared documents. The judge said 10 more days would be a torture to the convicts currently spending their time pending sentence at Maula prison.

Outside the court when Kita was asked reasons for asking the court for time, revealed "We want to restitute the money" which the accused is alleged to have stolen.

He said when the defense would be arguing on leniency on sentence for the accused, they want to make submissions with some receipts as evidence that apart from being a first time offender Namata has also shown sign of remorse by restituting the money.

He however mentioned that with time given if the restitution process fails the defense will stick to readily arguments.

According to the evidence provided in the court during previous trials, the two defrauded public money through cheques the ministry of tourism issued two times yet the recipients did not supplying any service. The two cheques were deposited into Cross Marketing Limited bank account. Maxwell Namata for two times deposited Cheque amounting to K9.7 Million and K14.4 million got from Ministry of Tourism into Cross Marketing Limited bank account and Luke Kasamba a manager for the company was responsible for the withdrawal of the deposited money and handed it over to Namata.

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.

CSOs Dates Law Makers on Passing Trafficking in Persons Bill, Minimum Marriage Age Bill

CSOs Dates Law Makers on Passing Trafficking in Persons Bill, Minimum Marriage Age Bill

Several Civil Society Organisations working in the fight for Women and Children rights on Monday engaged members of Parliament encouraging them to pass two bills 'The Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill of 2015 and Trafficking in Persons Bill.

Among others members were individually approached to emphasize that the two bills are very important for the best interest of Malawians because they will help to support traditional leader's efforts to stop marriages below the age of 18. And they have strength to curb human trafficking which Malawi is being rated a country registering highest incidences due to lack of specific anti trafficking legislation and porous borders. CSOs indicates that in 2014 alone, there were 2000 estimated cases of trafficking, with 500 police cases that have been handled by various partners.

Programme Officer for Women's Legal Legal Resource Centre (WOLREC) Mr. Gift Mauluka said two bills are on the order paper and wanted to interact with all members of parliament highlighting them "importance and advantages of passing the bills"

He said CSOs are proposing the marriage age to be above 18 years but members can even reach a bold decision to raise the age to 21 "even under consent of parents"

"We want the bill to be above the current age of 15 because of the complications that come about if a person is under that age and when they are in a marriage. We feel that 18 years is  comfortable age to say that a person can be in a marriage and can give birth properly"

Mauluka said of the Marriage Bill "As advocates we don't see a lot of contentious issues that need do be re-looked for it it to be passed. Very often the Law is not 100% positive, but currently the bill as it is we feel it is in good position to be passed"