CDEDI gives Speaker of Parliament Gotani Hara, Clerk Kalemba 48 to exonerate herself from Bill smuggling saga
Firebrand human rights watchdog, the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), has given Speaker of Parliament, Catherine Gotani Hara, and her clerk, Fiona Kalemba, 48 hours to tell the nation on the circumstances that facilitated or led to the smuggling of the Loan Authorisation Bill Number 22 of 2021 into the National Assembly.
CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa argues that Hara and Kalemba are key tackling questions surrounding what has become to be known as the ‘mysterious Bill’.
Namiwa makes the sentiments in a statement issued today. He says the silence of Kalemba and Hara on the matter is creating an impression that the fired Executive Assistant and Special Advisor on Church and Religious Affairs, Pastor Martin Thom, and the Ministry of Finance’s Acting Director of Debt and Aid, Nations Msowoya, smuggled the Bill without the help of officials from Parliament.
“And this can only be possible in the ‘Mission Impossible’ kind of movies! Isn’t this an insult on the intelligence of Malawians?” wonders Namiwa.
“CDEDI, and indeed all Malawians of good will, are deeply shocked with the deafening silence from the Clerk of Parliament Madam Fiona Kalemba the only person authorized by law to bring bills before the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Leader of the House and the Leader of opposition for deliberation before they appear on the order paper. The clerk is also responsible for gazetting of the bills in the Government Gazette. Therefore, all the critical questions surrounding the mysterious bill can ably be handled by Madam Kalemba,” he says.
Namiwa emphasizes that since all the loans, which the government secures through processes such as loan authorization bills, are paid back through taxpayers money and as such, any decision to secure loans, therefore, ought to be made in the best interest of all Malawians.
The CDEDI boss has appealed to President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to act decisively on the matter, by instituting an independent committee to investigate the scandal within 30 days.
Namiwa further warns Chakwera to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves, fearing any excuses could put his [the President] job on the line.
“Any smokescreen attempts on this issue, will not only dent the already buttered image of the Tonse Alliance Partners, but result into a catastrophe, as citizens will be forced to act,” he warns.
Hara has not yet given her reaction to the demand.
Spokesperson for dpp.
A Namiwa mungobwetuka zirizonse kufuna kutchuka eti?????
Namiwa, as much as I know you are so called a chairperson of a civil society organisation, but check your presentation of your issues and how things are on the ground. I know what you think is that when you can call for demonstration people may listen to you and demonstrate in the way they used to do during Jane Ansah time. Mistake!
Don’t take yourself as if you are a more Malawian than others. Remember whenever you are referring to Tonse Government you are referring to many malawians who willingly put Chakwera and Chilima in the thrones. I know you are either DPP or UDF. You had never thought that MCP would rule again.
Namiwa the other time I read you were blaming all Malawian for being calm by not demonstrating against this government.
Who do you think you are? How many people do you think are behind you? We are watching you. Don’t think that dpp will rule Malawi again. Forget!
Leave the matter into the hands of police and the courts. Ok supposing the speaker has not responded within the time you have given, what do you think you can do? Can you remove her? Can you remove the president? A joke!
There are many things which happened during the time of DPP which led to the loss of billions of taxpayers money to which you just give a blind aye.
Billions of kwachas was bollowed by muli brothers from the reserve bank to which bingu was a surity. May you follow that as well if muli is paying back or not?
Eish crying for my beloved country
Awa ndiye kaya
Some of these are just demented cry babies failing to accept that the parties they love were resoundingly rejected at the polls.
This shows ignorance about Government and Money Bills that originate from Executive Branch of government. Ministry of Justice Submitted to Parliament the mentioned Bill with the necessary communication and the Money Bills are not discussed in the Business Committee. The one who introduces Money Bills is the Minister of Finance and that’s why it was noticed that something is wrong because the Minister did not know about the origin of the Bill. Parliament then removed it from the order Paper and they have a record of an official who sent it to Parliament from the Ministry Justice, who is always the one responsible for this type of job. So the mess was done in the Executive side of Government and not Parliament that only receives Government and Money Bills and drafting is also done in the Ministry of Justice. Check with the Government, what really happened!!!