Kamlepo demands Nov salary for MPs

Vocal Rumphi East MP Kamlepo Kalua on Tuesday stunned his fellow legislators when he querried the government why it was not paying the members of parliament their November salaries.

With shouts of “Kamlepo maluzi” from the government side, the undeterred and unshaken Kalua said it was not in order for the members of parliament to get their salary in the next month.

“We are addressed as honouranle members yet we cannot receive our salary up to the first day of the next month,” said Kalua amid shouts and interjections from the government side.

Kamlepo stood up on a point of order when the House was debating an OPEC fund for International Development Bill which sought to authorise the government to borrow money for Mzimba integrated urban water and sanitation project.

First deputy speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje ruled Kalua out of order and cautioned him against ambushing the chair with issues which he brings without following procedures.

Members of parliament also get a K30000 per day as sitting allowance when the House is meeting.

“As an honourable member of parliament, he should know when and where to bring that issue,” said the deputy speaker.

Minister Finance Goodall Gondwe did not respond although he was in the House.