Kaliati hits at Kamlepo over presidential question-time session: ‘Let JB come for grilling’

Thom Chiumia – Nyasa Times

Minister of Informatio, communication, technology and civic education  Patricia Kaliati on Thursday hit out at opposition lawmaker form Rumphi East (Peoples Party –PP) Kamlepo Kalua for insisting to have President Peter Mutharika to face legislatures and respond to questions in person in the National Assembly.

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Kaliati: Lets start with the former president to come for grilling

Kalua told parliament that he would like to engage the President directly in the House and allow other MPs to grill the Head of State.

But Kaliati told Nyasa Times in an interview from London on Thursday that Kalua’s demand is not warranted.

“Why is he insisting on President to come and answer questions when there ministers everyday answering questions in parliament. We have 193 members in parliament, the President communicates to the whole population as he is busy addressing development rallies to engage the public,” said Kaliati.

She said it is “absurd” that Kalua keep on insisting to have Mutharika in the House for presidential question-time session when previous Heads of State were not quizzed.

Section 89(4) of the Constitution requires the President to appear before Parliament and answer questions “at such times as may be prescribed by the Standing Orders of Parliament or a motion.”

Since the adoption of the democratic Constitution after the dawn of plural politics through a 1993 National Referendum, only former president Bakili Muluzi fulfilled the provision and twice answered MPs’ questions in Parliament.

But Kaliati, who is official government spokesperson,  said Kalua should start by calling immediate former president Joyce Banda to appear before parliament to answer questions.

“Let him summon former president Joyce Banda wherever she is to come to parliament and lets grill her on her two year tenure if Kamlepo indeed believes in accountability,” Kaliati told Nyasa Times in London where she is on brief visit.

Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya said the House lack procedure in Standing Order to regulate the coming in of the President to answer questions under that provision in the Constitution.

He said the Legal Affairs Committee has done some work on that requirement and that report will be presented to the House in due course.

“The office has made special arrangements for the Legal Affairs Committee to be meeting over the weekends to finalise the report which will be presented to the House.  So, the question for someone or the President himself not respecting the laws does not arise,” the Speaker said.

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Maujeni a Kamlepo
Maujeni a Kamlepo
7 years ago

Kamulepo is such a fool who makes lots of noise when parliament is sitting. Shupit!

Exultant
7 years ago

I can’t see any reason why should the house ???? stop ✋ discussing important issues like ???? albino killing, implementation on how to battle with severe hunger next year delivered by the president and be waiting for the president to come. Let me remind you that the President responded to opposition leader’s speech whilst not in parliament. So what would be a different with you if you ask those question without him? If you want him on your personal issues the you should set an appointment with him to meet somewhere else but not in parliament where some are ready… Read more »

Mvithe
Mvithe
7 years ago

Zayambanso liti pulezidenti kufunsidwa mafutso ku nyumba ya malamulo? Mmayesa o Kamlepo adapita ku sukulu, sawerenga kodi malamulo dongosolo loyendetsera nkhani za ku nyumba ya malamulo! Ife kuno ku mudzi tikuona kupusa kwanu inu a Kamlepo Kaluwa, mulibe nzeru, komanso ndiinu munthu womvetsa chisoni zedi. Bwanji simudaimike mkono bwanji mmene pulezidenti akayankhula, mumadikira kuti wena akupopeni muzipanga phokoso lanu lija-a MP amenewo, pangani pfundo zanu kuti boma likuthandidzeni, muchedwa nazo zimenezo, kulitu masankho a chipulula 2019.

Issa
Issa
7 years ago

Good suggestion from the minister, what this means then is that an impeachment procedure should be followed to remove the bubu and let Joyce take over and appear before parliament. We want the sitting president and not the retired one mayi. Its like saying peter will appear only after bingu comes to parliament. Where are we going to find Bingu? Kaliati anangokulara mutu alibe nzeru. Anthu akufuna adzamufunse president dza mavuto omwe dziko likukumana nawo osati 577 billion. Joyce has no solutions to our current problems because she is no longer in power. May thunder fire all dpp supporters and… Read more »

Mathanyula
Mathanyula
7 years ago

JB is not the President now, whoever is the President is the one who needs to be in parliament answering questions, I think that makes sense

Mzozodo
Mzozodo
7 years ago

Kaliati, she was indeed supposed to answer questions in Parliament. The fact that she was not indicted doesn’t mean APM should not be indicted in Parliamen too. We need answers from the horses mouth. The questions will be in English, if you were afraid of ujeni…..ujeni……

Racist McTumbukaFace
Racist McTumbukaFace
7 years ago

Kikiki! Kaliati is such a genius! Indeed if Kamlepo believes in accountability where is his thieving party president?

Petre Mathanyula
Petre Mathanyula
7 years ago

Iwe kaliati, you’re defending your bububu. You know Mr Ibu can not withstand the heat in parliament. He is not as fluent as someone who claims to be the law professor. Defending the indefensible.

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