Parliament mid-year budget review in limbo amid skyrocketing of Covid-19 cases
Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara has convened a meeting for the leadership of the House to decide on the mid-year budget review meeting in the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases.
This follows the death of two legislators due to Covid-19 amid reports that many more MPs are infected.
Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda said the leadership of parliament will decide next week on whether or not to proceed with the scheduled 2020-2021 national budget review meeting.
A recent surge in Covid-19 infections and fatalities has created uncertainty on whether legislators should convene as planned from Monday, 8 February.
The second wave of the pandemic has not spared Parliament where it has claimed 3 legislators’ lives including that of Local Government Minister Lingson Berekanyama and his cabinet colleague, Sidik Mia.
Two legislators John Chikalimba of Zomba Changalume Constituency and Jacqueline Chikuta of Ntchisi North Constituency died last week.
Chimwendo Banda said the Speaker’s office will, early next week, convene a Business Committee meeting to map the way forward.
When contacted for comment, Chancellor College’s political science scholar, Happy Kayuni, insists that the Covid situation is the more reason why legislators should meet to fulfill their obligation of representing the people.
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musakhale ma allowance mwatenga kale agalu inu
Go on line. That’s what other countries are doing all over. Don’t be perpetrators of covid 19 spreading. No more that 50 groupings should be respected by all, starting with the MPs.
Do it via internet that is when you can appreciate kuti ana asukulu amene mukunena kuti aziphunziraxakukimana ndi mavuto anji.
Lakula ndidyera kufuna ma allowance.Lockdown hascto apply to all no exceptions
Why are those in the picture not wearing masks? That is careless.
Old pic
Let’s brace for hardtimes. Even if the vaccine comes. Most likely after April. We have to suffer the economic consequences of corona. We are in trouble
My thinking, the current status is the more reason why Parliament should not meet. Let’s pump all our resources into fighting the pandemic. It is so unreasonable to spend billions in allowances when there are no oxygen cylinders, vitamins C & D, zink etc in hospitals. A Parliament meeting in a super spreader. Let’s not be careless, we can’t afford to unnecessarily expose more people to the virus. Abale, anatilodza ndani?
I am only wondering what the intended so called budget review will bring us. After all, are we operating on any budget for the past 7 months? There’s literally nothing happening on development. So what will be reviewed? Can we review zero results or make new plans?
Hahaha iwo ati akupanga chitukuko