Bingu challenges parliament will continue

In a clear adamant move, President Bingu Mutharika has told opposition legislators boycotting the current sitting of the National Assembly that proceedings will continue in the House when it reconvenes tomorrow following a weekend recess.

Mutharika, speaking on Sunday during a rally he addressed after a ground breaking ceremony of a 30km Nsanje-Bangula road stretch said he will not bow down to pressure from any quarter asking him to stop the House from continuing.

The Nsanje-Bangula road is being constructed by a Portuguese construction firm, Mota Engil, courtesy of MK8 billion saved from tax payers' money,

"I opened the National Assembly due to the powers that are conferred on me by the Constitution of Malawi. Nobody forced me to do so. Therefore, nobody would stop the proceedings in the House," said Mutharika, in an apparent reference to calls from civil society organisations who are calling for the House to stop the proceedings, because its falls short of constituting a quorum.

On the 2008-2009 National Budget, Mutharika challenged the opposition that at whatever cost, parliament will approve the budget, which he described as a catalyst to turn his "colour dreams" into a reality.

"Whether the opposition wants it or not, the budget will be passed. I will not let the country to be put at ransom by few misguided individuals, who are bent on derailing progress," said Mutharika.

"We are tired of continued threats to shoot down the budget. This time, we will not be threatened. We have had enough," said the President.

Mutharika told the gathering that braved sweltering heat of the Lower Shire that Section 65 was not a priority to his government.

The Malawi leader then seized the opportunity to attack his usual "political enemies", Malawi Congress Party's (MCP) president John Tembo, and United Democratic Front's (UDF) presidential candidate Dr Bakili Muluzi, who he said, were stumbling blocks in his bid to develop the country beyond here.

"I want wherever you are, Tembo and Bakili that Malawians are tired of you. Malawians have had enough and they now want real development and not just political rhetoric," said the President amid hand clapping and ululation from his "a mai a Bingu".

In his speech, Minister responsible for Transport and Communication, Chimunthu Banda, who is also Leader of Government in the House disclosed that the President has instructed the Department of Treasury to pay allowances only to legislators who would be attending the proceedings.

Since Monday, opposition legislators have been boycotting the current sitting of the National Assembly, until government included on the list of issues to be deliberated upon, the controversial Section 65.

During his State of the Nation address, only five opposition parliamentarians attended.

During their absence, the House debated and passed the Import and Export Bank of India Money Bill, which authorises government to borrow about US$30 Million from the bank towards the acquisition of army and police vehicles.

The House also confirmed the appointments of the Chief Justice and Auditor General, Lovemore Munlo and Rexford Kampanje respectively, a move which has since been described as illegal by civil society organisations.