Malawi Parliament to prioritise funding of committees with oversight functions
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has asked Speaker Richard Msowoya to ensure the National Assembly prioritise funding for committees with oversight functions at Parliament.
PAC said when it summoned the Speaker to appear before the committee following from constitutional committees such as Budget and Finance, Legal Affairs and Public Accounts which have failed to meet recently due to lack of funding.
Alekeni Menyani, the PAC chairman, said the committee was “not satisfied” with the intervention of the Speaker and also that of National Assembly controlling officer, Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba, who has an earlier appearance .
Menyani said they will continue discussing to ensure that the oversight role of parliament is not suffocated.
He said the summoned the Speaker as head of the Parliamentary Service Committee and Clerk of Parliament to make inquiries on funding relating to the National Assembly.
Menyani said his committee was frustrated that while Treasury funds committee meetings, prioritisation is lacking especially for committees to carry out oversight functions.
He bemoaned that PAC has a backlog of audits of the Auditor General.
Recently, the Executive accused the Legislature of exhausting its budget by allegedly prioritising foreign travel at the expense of committee meetings. However, Parliament dismissed the accusations as false.
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Mr.Speaker sir, why are you sabotaging the efforts of the president in rooting out fraud and financial mismanagement in the public service by killing PAC.Is it because you are an opposition speaker and you want the public to think that Govt.is sitting on K577 billion cashgate? As former member of PAC, I’m very disappointed with you sir.Parliament’s other function is provision of oversight to the executive and you cant talk of oversight without PAC.
Mr.Speaker sir, you can not suffocate this committee and expect to win back donors.Leave a good legacy.
The hope of the nation is on PAC to see that the K577 billion saga is concluded and that the backlog of audit quarries is cleared.That’s parliamentary oversight function.And Mr.Speaker you give such a committee 2 wks to meet in a year?Are we serious about dealing with fraud and financial impropriety in Malawi.Do you know that the work of Auditor General is incomplete without PAC according to Public Audit Act and Public Finance Mgt Act.Why should PAC still be considering audit reports as far back as 2010? Come on Mr.Speaker, prioritise this committee amidst the financial challenges so that they… Read more »
Zilani, are you suggesting that 1.government should phase out fuel entitlements to judicial, executive and the legislative officers, and that 2. MP’s need not service their constituencies through local travel? Don’t be simplistic.
PAC Chairperson knows budget cuts affected all votes including 080-National Assembly. They should learn to prioritize committee meetings and work round the clock. It’s time our MPs learned to sacrifice for this country.
Another way of doing it is to stop all monthly personal fuel allowances to MPs. We can save alot from there and channel savings to committee meetings. The truth is that these fuel allowances are a very good example of abuse on public resources.
Public Finance Management was by-passed full time on these allowances. Think again Hon Alekeni Menyani, MP