Civil society group angers Malawi parliament over lobby tactics

Some members of parliament are upset that the Civil Society Education Coalition organised a working breakfast with the legislators in order to lobby for increased education budget when legislators were already meeting in committee of supply.

This is the last stage before the national budget is passed.

Chairman of Education Committee of parliament Elias Chakwera said usually it is difficult to change the budget when the legislators are scrutnising the budget vote by vote in what is known as committee of supply.

“This is ill timed,” Chakwera said.

The Coalition wants the education vote raised from 13 per cent of the GDP to the globally recommended 20 per cent.

The current budget for the ministry of Education is K147 billion.

One of the members of the Coalition Lucky Mbewe said it was not too late for parliament to consider the proposal.

He blamed the delay on what he said poor communication between parliament and the Coalition.