Malawi opposition MPs fury over school fees increase, abolishing of JCE exams

Business in Parliament grounded to a halt after disagreements between government side and the opposition  following a ministerial statement on government declaration to increase school fees in secondary schools and the abolishment of Junior Certificate examinations.

Jooma:  The matter should have been debated
Jooma: The matter should have been debated

The development forced the Second Deputy Speaker Clement Chiwaya to call for an early adjournment of the House proceedings degenerated into chaos with both sides failing to agree on how to proceed with Parliaments business.

Earlier, Minister of Education Science and Technology Dr Emmanuel Fabiano presented a ministerial statement which declared governments decision to increase school fees in secondary schools and abolishment of JC examinations.

Speaking after the ministerial statement Chiwaya guided the House that according to Parliamentary Standing Orders the statement was not subject to debate by members but rather only questions decision can be asked on the statement.

This did not go down well with the opposition who wanted the matter to be debated as it had far reaching consequences on ordinary Malawians.

Leader of Opposition Dr Lazarus Chakwera said as opposition they found it rather absurd that government decided to raise school fees in secondary schools when the country is going through the worst economic turmoil in living memory.

Chakwera argued that there were shortages of medical drugs in hospitals and majority of Malawians have no food at household level following the devastating floods and prolonged dry spells that hit the country last growing season.

“As opposition we feel that we will not ask any questions on the statement as this is a matter of national importance which could have been debated in this House to come up with a consensus. Suffice to say, we are registering that as the opposition we are not in favor of what is being proposed,” said Chakwera amid handclapping from the opposition side.

However, Leader of the House Francis Kasaila argued against Chakwera sentiments saying Malawians were paying Primary Schools fees during the MCP era although the country was poor.

He was booed and jeered by the opposition side who called him unprintable names, generating the House into uncontrollable chaos.

Stubbornly Kasaila then moved a motion to waiver all relevant Standing Orders so that he should table government business.

And when Chiwaya put the question the opposition carried the day by refusing to go into government business upon which government side asked for division which calls for the House to vote on the decision to be taken.

The vote went in favour of government side and opposition suffered a humiliating defeat owing to absenteeism of its rank and file in the House.

This further accelerated name calling and jeers in the Chamber turning it into a kindergarten class situation, a development which forced Chiwaya to call for an early adjournment.

Speaking in an interview, Leader of Peoples Party (PP) Ralph Jooma concurred with Chakwera that the matter was supposed to be subjected to debate.

“This is a very bad year to raise school fees taking into consideration the economic turmoil the country is going through. Government raised the price of subsidized fertilizer while goods and services are going up every day. The question is where will Malawians get the money for the raised school fees,” Jooma argued.

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Jacobs
8 years ago

Malawians as poor people we need to focus on how we can all together develop this country.malawians aren’t ready to meet that changes

John
John
8 years ago

FOR HOW LONG WILL MALAWI KEEP IN BEGGING FOR HELP FROM DONORS? I DONT UNDERSTAND THIS! WHEN MONEY IS DENIED, WE BLAME DONORS AS IF IT IS THEM WHO TELL US TO PRODUUCE BABIES CARELESSLY.

MALAWI NEEDS A SERIOUS POPULATION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK TO SLOW DOWN THE GROWTH.

THE PARTY IN GOVT SHOULD THINK TWICH AND STOP POLITICIZING EVERYTHING! JUST VISIT OUR PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND SEE THE KIDS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THREE CHILDREN IS ENOUGH PER FAMILY AND NOT 4 AS KALIATI WAS SAYING THE OTHER DAY!

cbk
cbk
8 years ago

Mukweze ifike k100,000.ntima ukuphweni.chili chonse mukwezenso mmene mufunila palibe vuto.Lamulirani nomasuka basis timvela iya.Tinafuna tokha sitilira zambili ife.Bola mukutipasa foteleza wamakoponi.

titus Scoti
titus Scoti
8 years ago

Komano ndalama zogulira mankhwala kapena kuyendetsera maphunziro zizichokera kuti? Mbuli za opposition. Bring into parliament for debate issue yoti anthu achepetse kuswana. Tachulukitsa aMalawi choncho umbuli siudzatsa even if a new government comes in, it will be the same song

Chochomola
Chochomola
8 years ago

DPP, Mukweze fees mpaka ku primary tizilipira Mk1,000,000,000 until no one will afford.

This ensure your nice exit.

I love you Gondwe & Mutharika & Kasaila.

Sapitwa
Sapitwa
8 years ago

Malaya athina hehe!!! The opposition MPs have no any questions; house adjourn!
It’s now time for 1 child per family instead of the battalion of children. It will lead to paradigm shift to all those who thought government is responsible for all their problems. When new things start you have to feel pain before they become better.

Ndinunkha
Ndinunkha
8 years ago

Increasing school fees i s tantamount to increasing umbuli in the country.Our literacy levels will definitely suffer. The end result is more and more school dropouts who cannot afford paying school fees owing to the high cost of living. Government should not be toying around with the food, health and education sectors. Instead let them increase cost-cutting measures without letting these sectors suffer. With education we are creating a lot more other social problems – child marriages, prostitution not to mention increasing the HIV pandemic in the country. These will all be results of our small girls dropping from school… Read more »

Achimidzimidzi
Achimidzimidzi
8 years ago

I am a watchman and have three secondary children out of the six. My young brother is still in the village and wants me to buy him fertilizer. My house is at Gona A in Lilongwe. We are many watch-man people here and some of ma watch-man friends are at Chisapo area. we are paid at MK25,000.00 because our employer is a local company. However, them and me are lucky because we are employed but our very many numerous friends and old people who are keeping orphaned children. neither can they get employed nor assisted by bursary – man The… Read more »

Beast Msonda
Beast Msonda
8 years ago
Reply to  Achimidzimidzi

Let me respond to you although I know you are not what you claim to be. In the first place, who told you to have those SIX CHILDREN? Was it the government? Or your brother? Or Malawi as a nation? Why should I, the tax payer, be punished for your sins? Be responsible. Take care of your children. Do not push that responsibility to tax payers or your uncle or your brother, or your parents. Those are the consequences of your own actions.

SONG
SONG
8 years ago

Jooma this is a good character in Parliament I am proud of you and carry on you will be Minister come 2019 MCP takes over the govt.

nthandalanda
nthandalanda
8 years ago

Ma MP amene mukusapota, mudzamenyedwa za ziii izi. Mukufuna mudzingoba ndalamazo? Agalu achabechabe inu. Ndalama ife tidzitenga kuti? Mbuzi za mano pansi. Mfiti mxiii!

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