Malawi Parliament meets from May 5 for first phase of budget session

Malawi’s parliament is expected to reconvene next week Tuesday for a budget session, its Speaker Richard Msowoya has said.

The Minister of Finance, Goodall Gondwe, a former official at the International Monetary Fund, who is credited with helping fuel an economic boom during the early years of late Bingu wa Mutharika’s leadership, will present the 2015/16 national budget statement on Friday, May 22

According to Leader of House, Francia Katsaila, the 2015/16 budget sitting, which starts on Tuesday, May 5, will go on until July 3.

“As per tradition, the sitting will feature the President’s State of the Nation address which will be debated from Wednesday, May 6 to Friday, May 15 and after that we shall continue with general business for one week that includes outstanding business from the last sitting,” he said,

Kasaila also said Parliament is expected to confirm the new chief justice Andrew Nyirenda.

He said after the presentation of the 2015/16 national budget statement on May 22 by Finance Ministre, the House shall break for two weeks “to allow members ample time to look at the statement so they can make informed and well thought inputs.”

Kasaila said when the House will reconvene,debate on the budget will start for another two weeks.

“Then from June 22 to 26 we will go into the committee of supply and our expectations are that by June 26 we will have the budget passed,” he said.

The house will also discuss bills carried forward from previous sitting, they include the Reserve Bank of Malawi Amendment Bill, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Bill, Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply Bill, Metrology Bill and the Insolvency Bill.

“Our wish is to finish these and see if we can get some more from the order paper. We will also get some ministerial statements and one of them will be on the crop outlook so that we brief the nation on what the assessment has been like and what government is doing to avert the hunger situation. Outstanding committee reports are also expected to be made,” Kasaila said.

He said government expects a smooth session.

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