Mutharika tells Malawi MPs: ‘Parliament is not bigger than government’
President Peter Mutharika on Friday ruffled feathers of Parliamentarianswhen he challenged that the august House is not bigger than government.
Mutharika has since challenged Parliamentarians to ask themselves on why they are attending the meeting.
The President was opening the 47th session of the National Assembly in the Capital City of Lilongwe when he made the remarks.
“Parliament is an important part of Government. Parliament is an important part of the people. Parliament is a cornerstone of democracy. But Parliament is not, and should never consider itself bigger than Government,” challenged Mutharika.
He said he was not in the Parliament to deliver a State of the Nation Address as that has “its own time and day”, but was there to quiz the honorable members as to “why are we here?”
“As Parliament, the first reason of existence is, as we say, ‘to make laws.’ But more precisely, we are here to enact legislation for the good of the nation. We enact the laws that have been made in a collective process. Indeed, Parliament cannot, and does not make laws single-handedly. Making laws is our shared responsibility between the Executive and Parliament.
“The second reason of our existence is to represent the people. We are here to act on behalf of our voters and citizens. And how many of us truly represent the will of the people? How many of us consult the people we represent?”
Mutharika said he has seen times when Members of Parliament represent their parties more than the people.
“I have seen times when Members of Parliament frustrate Government business that is meant to serve the very people we claim to represent. And I ask again: why are we here?”
Mutharika said Parliament exists to maintain oversight of the Executive on behalf of the people of Malawi, to critically hold the Executive accountable.
“But who holds us accountable? As I will be underlining later in this speech, in any human society – everyone must be accountable to someone else. It is in performing the above roles that we become part of Government. Yes, Government is incomplete without Parliament. And Parliament cannot exist without the Executive and the Judiciary.”
He has since urged the august House to avoid the political hubris of thinking that Parliamentarians are more important than the rest of Government.
“Such political pride can be birth of the tragedy of democracy. We are here for the people. This Session will only be meaningful if we all remember that we are here to represent the people.
Far too often Mr. Speaker, we meet here to flex our political muscles. This is not a house for political posturing. This is not our house. Parliament is the house of the people. We are here on the principle of representing the people.”
On other note, during his speech titled “Rising above Macroeconomic Stability”, Mutharika tackled issues of economic performance, energy situation, food security, public health, public sector reforms and national security.
He said as a nation, Malawi is making steady and positive progress in most sectors of the economy, in spite of the challenges that the nation is currently facing.
“All we need now is for us to work together to sustain and build on the achievements that have been gained so far if we are to realize the sustainable and inclusive growth that we, as a nation, aspire.”
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Public sympathy seeking after boma litawavuta kuyendetsa. Mukumbuke zomwe munkalonjeza nthawi ya campaign and see wat you have achieved. Zero pa ten.
All the three arms of govt are equal. This is true because when the President enters into Parliament everyone including leader of opposition stands up to pay special respect to the president. They are equal because after deliberating their bills they will at the end seek the signature of the president who has a right to consent or not to. The arms are indeed equal that’s why it is only the president who opens Parliament and not speaker or leader of opposition. To show that Parliament is equal to executive there is this arrangement that the speech in parliament is delivered by President not Leader of Opposition who happens to lead the house. The equality is there that’s why we see the President swears-in the new judges including their boss instead of doing it themselves. This is why after noticing that they cannot show that they are bigger than the president they usually use Parliament as a battle field to fight the president forgetting that if anything is blocked it is the same people they represent who will suffer. The president will still get his salary. Others are saying the president’s days are numbered. Who is numbering the days? Are there any other days apart from those in the constitution? Or does MCP have another constitution for numbering the days of the state president? May be MCP does not know the use of this statement. The truth on the ground is that this APM has no strong competator in 2019. MCP has only one hope if it wants to win 2019 elections- let it invade the Lhomwe and Yao land and convince people of these areas that Chakwera can bring miracles in Malawi. Otherwise the man will end up like JZU with that post of Leader of Opposition not leader of Malawi. Watopa kale 5 years yomweyi? Angobwelera mkachisi madalawa.
This old fool sucks.. he really sucks.
Mr Mande, are you sure that you noted down the title of the President’s speech correctly? ‘Rising above Macroeconomic Stability’ makes no sense.
‘Macroeconomic stability’ describes a national economy that has minimized its vulnerability to external threats, thus improving its prospects of sustained growth. It is an essential precondition for economic growth because it protects the national economy from currency fluctuations, large debt burdens, and mismanaged inflation, all of which can cause economic crises and the collapse of the Gross Domestic Product.
The foregoing does not describe our national economy.
‘Macroeconomic stability’ is measured by five variables:
1. Low and stable inflation
2. Low long-term interest rates
3. Low national debt relative to GDP
4. Low deficits
5. Currency stability.
Measured against all of these variables, it would be absurd to suggest that we have achieved macroeconomic stability. There is no macroeconomic stability for us to ‘rise above’. Consequently, I suggest to you that the title of the President’s speech was in fact ‘Rising above Macroeconomic IN-stability’.
Dear Mr Mande,
Please accept my apology. Since writing the above comment, I have seen and read the President’s complete statement. It does indeed claim that we have achieved macroeconomic stability, and that we about to become better than merely stable. In relation to the variables listed above, I guess this means that in the near future, we can expect to enjoy zero inflation, zero interest rates, zero national debt, zero deficits, and currency appreciation.
Now that’s what I call ‘dreaming in color’!
Parliament can impeach you sir, it can send you packing ……… I thought Mutharika is a lawyer
The government has three arms, the executive, judiciary and legislature. And each has its own roles which are complementary to each other for purpose of good governance. In countries where there is true democracy, none of the three is supreme or more powerful than the other, and a good example is what recently happened in Kenya whereby the judiciary made a board verdict to reverse the outcome of the presidential election or in other countries a president being impeached etc. This just signifies that none of the three is more powerful than the other. What is important is that each arm should be objective enough when executing its responsibilities which I find lucking in our situation. If every MP can conduct in the manner just as the president has advised so is the executive, we can notice progress as a nation.
Professor Peter Mutharika passionately intellectually believes (like most people from LOMWE Belt) he is the most (only one) who has got the best education and the ability to lead this country (ati ngati ukupsya wauwisi).
Remember, just a couple of days ago the president was it again denigrading Chakwera of having little or fake education (unancreditted certificates) to lead the country. As if prestigious academic achievements automatically equates to high work performance. Really?? In this age and era? Guys any honest person who is really truly well-educated and travelled should realise that this is NOT TRUE! In fact it’s a grandiose delusion!!!
It is unfortunate that someone at the level and age of the president still believes ati for a family/ an office/ a country to be more successful one necessarily needs to have so many prestigious degrees or u professor, kkkkk. KOMA!!!
Professor Mutharika should be a living axample to say that very high education does not necessarily translate into higher job output performance. Neither does it mean kuti attainment of very higher academic achievement/accolades mean you are the most intelligent person in your community. I know of many people still in living the village poor and farming but ankakhoza bwino kwambiri in primary school.
In my view mulungu anatikondela chabe. Kumayima pa chulu as if we are the most intelligent beings (even where we are coming from) smacks not only a degree of unintelligible arrogance but ALSO that indeed school sikuti always helps in life. No wonder our country is pathetic!
Peter should by now know that even at the level of uMinister there have been or are still by far more capable and more effective and efficient ministers than he had been at some point here in Malawi (Aleke, Louis Chimango, JB, Jooma, his own Henry Mussa, to mention but a few).
Forget about the president’s unknown professorial credentials in US. What at least is known in Malawi is that Peter has performed miserably in Malawi. The education saga, as a minister is just but one example.
If some people still believes (assumes as most ddp worshippers) that Peter for the mere fact that he is a lomwe (probably most educated by their standards), trained in US, he is president (and not minister where he was a mediocre) has the magic wand to perform than any other Malawian at the moment; then it’s a mulakho fallacy. It is simply not true.
Peter is a normal human being. We have seen him fail, in my view the most mediocre president in my living memory.
DDP royalists should STOP being offended when other equally (or potentially more able people) criticise their hero-worshipped Peter. The results are that he has been tried not only as president BUT as a minister too but he has failed.
Therefore his litimus test for probability for success should not be relegated to his little known (uknown) academic credentials in US to Malawians but his ability to change our current livellivelihood (socio-economic status) as Malawians.
Uyu wapenga
U didnt go to parliament for that mr man
The government is not bigger than parliament either. The stupid people representing both institutions were employed on a five year contract by Malawians the same day. Unfortunately as stupid and inhuman as they are, they will come in 18 month’s time to ask for a renewal of contract. They will be telling us how good they have done on their jobs instead of us telling them how sleeping they were on their jobs.
Thanks so much Mr. President truely you are a God given one meant for this Nation – You exactly know where we are coming from and where we are going yes very focused. I did listened to the speech surely I have also learnt something from it and that you have a true VISION of turning around the ECONOMY of this Nation. Everything that you promised is happening even though your haters are all over but you are still stable and strong. I can see the hand of the Almight God leading, guiding & protecting you. May the Almight God continue blessing you with such abandance wisdon and love for this Nation Malawi.
I know this will not go well with all those who don’t like you but believe me these are my true words deep down my heart – for I do foresee great progress in National development for this Nation. God bless our lovely Nation and I wish all our MPs a nice & fruitfull Parliament Session.
nkayesa govt ili mmagulu atatu
I hope the speech is not an excuse for not tabling the electoral reform bill bwana. If so, parliament will be moved to choke government.
he should go deliver this speech to his cabinet ministers
#this is a mockery to the general public #hypocrite
This old Madala has run out of ideas. All this time he can only tell Malawians today that Parliament is not bigger than govt the whole president can say that really all the way from state house to Parliament building. Simanyazi awa. So, I am saying you can not run government without Parliament. A real president could say Parliament is an arm of government therefore all the three arms form government. Executive alone can not form govt, Judiciary alone can not form government and Parliament alone can not form govt. So the president should be careful when speaking about arms of govt.
watha mau munthu wamkulu
Amongst these three arms of the government, none is bigger than the other, namely executive, judiciary and legislature (parliament).
Peter Muthalika this is your opportunity to assume Malawians that your administration is on top of issues. Lecturing Malawians & parliamentarians wont bring us employment, electricity, or root out corruption.
Do not shift away the attention cos your performance is below average. Tell us what youre doing with the challenges experiencing this poorest nation in the short-term, medium & long term. And refer to how much progress have you done on your manifesto.
Otherwise, your days of occupying the state residences are numbered. And if elections were held now, you would experience the painful defeat. You have time to turn the tables if you work on critical challenges facing the nation.
Great speech!! And if i may ask, who do you represent Mr president? Malawi as a country or Lhomwe people only. Are you Mr president bigger than the Government and its people?
Amene ali ndi khutu amve, amene anabadwa ogontha mkhutu akhale choncho ndipo atsutsane nazo izo zomwe anena a president athu a dziko la Malawi
Mr. President you have spoken the truth, some people think they are too big, these people have no human heart, they just think of themselves and use parliament to showcase their ignorance and inhuman acts and in the end of their evil acts pocket taxpayers money off they go and call themselves mashasha, shame.
Typical of someone who has never been an MP. Thanks for the theory Sir.
Congratulations Mr President. This is a National building presidential speech. Wakumva wamva. The President has acknowledged the challenges that we as a nation are going through. and I believe Malawi is not alone. But the way we talk as if Malawi has never seen any challenge before. Let us support him by working together for the good of the country. Akakhala magetsi Government is already doing something kungoti sizichitika nthawi yomweyo. Give the President time and we will all be basking in glory.
nonone is the above the even the president must respectect the law
Mr President…..You have made a point ……but I see a problem here…..You expect Hon. members to represent the people here when the executive ,with all the resources provided to them, has no time to think about the welfare of people rather than boot-licking and worship the world of politics in order to safeguard their positions. I wish you can also make the same speech to ministers, PSs and CEO of all government institutions.
Hon members tend to be fancy with their political parties in this house having observed that their is no seriousness from the executive camp.
A very honest and constructive speech. Thumbs up to our President
DPP MPs are a good example of MPs who serve the party more than the people. They defend the govt even when things are wrong and Malawians are suffering. We have blackouts and yet Dausi comes on TV and says the govt is doing well by providing electricity. What a contradictory speech. Anyway, my plea is that the party whips should do their job right.
Mature speech
Kikkkkkkk Mr President what are you afraid of? mwayambira kuchimbowa zimbe odala!! hahahahahahahaha.
Shame!!!!!!!!!!!
Signs of frustration after loosing ground.
Go to hell with your senseless and worthless talk, no electoral reform bill no business in parliament and its when you will appreciate the roles of MPs. You think you can intimidate us?
Government is not bigger than Parliament either. They are both employed on a renewable 5 year contract the same day by Malawians. But how embarrasing it will be for them to come back to ask Malawians for renewal of their contracts in 18 months time after their dismal performance. A normal human being would not dare because it’s not only embarrassing but stupid.
Go tell with your senseless and worthless talk, no electoral reform bill no business in parliament and its when you will appreciate the roles of MPs. You think you can intinidate us?
Copy and paste! Come one session after another, the same speech. Zikatifikitsa kuti??? A Malawi mwaona vuto losankha ma Educated savage??? Uyu munthuuu…….. let’s not vote for him come 2019. Atengeletu green card.
These new reporters on Nyasa are writing news for readers to read and get something. The old guards have been writing just to please their political masters. This reporter has written something that we can clearly get the whole picture of real news. Parliament per Malawi standard is taken as a battle field between govt and opposition. The stupid part of it is that the MPs are being driven by CSOs to behave like headless snakes.
Zoona Abwana. Parliament must stop being big headed. Leader of opposition must stop behaving like Lucipher by equating himself to the state president just like Lucipher who was equating himself to God.
Pàmenapa God is Peter ,komwe Ku Malawi Juli mbuzidi..