British envoy urges Malawi MPs to be pro-active
British High Commissioner to Malawi Michael Nevin has advised Malawian parliamentarians to be effective when they are in line of duty mostly in the National Assembly [during deliberations] for the betterment of the nation as well us fulfilling expectations of Malawians.
Nevin was speaking whenhe hosted a reception for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association-Scotland Branch delegation at his Area 10 residence in the capital city, Lilongwe on Tuesday 10th February, 2015.
“There is clearly a demand by Malawians, like their British counterparts, for Parliament to be more effective. How to achieve this is a useful debate including whether the expectations of the citizenry of their MPs are in the right place” said Nevin.
However, Nevin said there are a lot more things that need to be done for parliament to act in an effective way like a good political system of government that encourage and ensures transparency and accountability.
“A parliament cannot operate in isolation. There are many other ingredients needed for democracy and parliaments to be effective, such as upholding the rule of law, a political system that encourages transparency and accountability, a true separation of powers, strong civic education,” he said.
According to the British envoy, Commonwealth offers a unique advantage in this area, adding real value in the continual quest to improve the functioning of democracy.
He further said UK has a strong history with Malawi, including a colonial one which influenced Malawi’s attitudes, institutions and systems.
Having celebrated 50 years of independence last year, Nevin said Malawi need to stand on its own.
“It [Malawi] should be increasingly standing on its own two feet. But our shared history offers the UK and Malawi special advantages to take forward a modern partnership, expanding on our large and extensive development programme that seeks to achieve shared goals, our strong defence relationship, our educational ties, our cooperation on regional and international issues, our common interest in mutual security, prosperity, trade and investment,” explained the British envoy.
Commonwealth is an organization of countries that largely share similar legal and legislative frameworks and sometimes even the same practices in Parliament.
Whether UK are helping us or not, Malawi will be run by Malawians following our culture and best practice.
ngoyipa awa ankawona ngati boma lilephera
Nafenso tinawathandizapo nthawi ya Dr Kamuzu Banda.
Time for change. Yes we can.
Umbuli ndi matenda, civic education is important.
I want to thank all our Mps for a wonderful job they are doing. When we had the last parliament ed did not have Mps like this these ones. Just come to the chamber and see what is happening. You will be shocked it’s not the same as it if used to be.
Well done your Excellence, our MPs seem not to know their job descriptions!! In other countries Mps are good at legislative work but in Malawi an MP can stay one full five year term without tabling any bill in Parliament! All they know is giving coffin handouts! For example none is tabling the electoral reform bill right now but they are busy getting allowances!
Indeed the High Commissioner is right. Our mps are there just to enrich themselves, greedy through and through. 1. Very fat salary, without remorse on the suffering Malawians at this time of national economic turmoil – When the President and ministers felt it devilish to get fat salary raise, mps showed all the greed. 2. Huge allowances during frequent committee meetings – Results of meetings not helping the nation. Just scape goat to make money. 3. Huge allowances when parliament is in session yet that is there office. Should one get allowances again when being in his/her duty office? And… Read more »
Stop blaming game you sorry malawians. That’s exactly he’s talking about and in very plain language but some myopic ideologies as usual are giving a British envoy astick. Poor malawians … How much billions of pounds sterling’s have been siphoned in Malawi since 20 years ago in different aid programmes and what have you done with it. You all greedy pigs and corrupted people know exactly where British hard earned money’s in all these years have been. And for some of you critising British British reps is uncalled for. No matter how many different countries ( west, East, South, Americans,)… Read more »
Get out of the common Wealth like Gambia did. How can wealth be common. To who. Amafuna Tea, suger, peanuts ndi zina za ulele.. They are giving money to NGO not to Government. why? They want to weaken the government. They like JB chifukwa waba ndalama wakasunga?