Parliament adjourns again

Proceedings in the National Assembly were on Monday adjourned again prematurely until tomorrow morning, following disagreements between the opposition and government benches over business to be debated on in the House.

The opposition wanted the House to discuss the statement issued in the House last week by the Speaker Louis Chimnago, while the government preferred the House to start with question time.

The House rose for an early weekend recess on Wednesday to enable the Business Committee to meet and work out a way forward for the House, following a statement issued by the Speaker of the House, Louis Chimango who told the August House that he was not ready to act on Section 65, because his hands were tied by the injunctions served on him through the courts.

Today's order paper contained questions put forward to various ministries. But the opposition dismissed it entirely claiming it was done without their consultation.

"This is not what we agreed. This has not been drafted by the Business Committee. What this primitive paper [Order Paper] contains is not what we had agreed. I am therefore of the view that the committee must go back and prepare a fresh agenda for the House," said UDF Leader in the House, George Nga Ntafu.

But Leader of Government in the House, Henry Chimunthu Banda defended it saying all eleven members who sit in the business committee were involved.

"This is what we agreed. If someone is trying to suggest to the contrary, then that is a breach of what was agreed upon," said Chimunthu, insisting for the continuation of the proceedings.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Respecious Dzanjalimodzi who is Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the House, and sits in the Business Committee,  asked the Second Deputy of the House, Ester Mcheka Nkhoma to allow the legislators to discuss on the statement issued by the Speaker that covered various issues surrounding Section 65.

"Although the issue is still in court, I would suggest Madam Deputy Speaker, that we should discuss the document, because it was made available to us to read and thereafter respond," pleaded Dzanjalimodzi.

But before Mcheka Chilenje was to solicit more views on the proposal, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Henry Phoya said it was not in the interest of peace and oneness to discuss the document in the House.

"Madam, Second Deputy Speaker, I feel it is not proper that we should be discussing about this document. I am of the view that the House adjourns until tomorrow," said Phoya.

On Tuesday, the House was adjourned to let the legislators to have time to look at the statement from the Speaker and enable the Business Committee to cobble a way forward. The committee could not meet as agreed because some of its members were locked in a meeting with President Mutharika.

The 40th Session of the House is yet to make progress. Since its official opening two weeks ago, the House has been plagued in controversy.

The first week was boycotted by the opposition members. And in their absence, the government side and other few opposition legislators debated and passed one money bill that authorizes government to borrow money from the Import and Export Bank of India.  

The House also confirmed the country's new Chief Justice, and Auditor General, Lovemore Munlo and Rexford Kampaje.

The opposition has since challenged the bill and the confirmation of the two public officers, claiming it was illegal since the House could not constitute a quorum.