Parliament rules out extension after Friday

Malawi Parliament has ruled out extending its seating after this coming Friday to tackle unfinished business, including the contentious electoral reforms bill.

Leader of the House, Kondwani Nankhumwa, said all unfinished business will be tackled either in May or June when the House meets for budget session.

“There is no need for extension, we are just going by plan,” he said.

Parliament is yet to pass or reject an opposition sponsored Electoral Reforms bill which seeks to make sweeping and comprehensive electoral laws including proposing establishment of tally centres in constituencies and hefty fines for vote buyers and election riggers.

The government is rejecting the bill, saying the Law Commission is already dealing with the issues. Parliament is also yet to pass a report by a special parliamentary inquiry on maizegate.

Chairman of the inquiry Joseph Chidanti Malunga said he could not introduce the issue in parliament for the past two weeks because there were not enough opposition members of parliament.

“This is an important report which needed to be adopted by all the sides of the House,” he said.

Chidanti Malunga said 17 opposition legislators were not in the House.

He was upbeat the report would be adopted this week.

Among others, the report recommends that former Agriculture minister George Chaponda for his suspicious dealings in the procurement of maize from Zambia.