Speaker says petitioners shouldn’t enter Malawi Parliament gates: Security concern

Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya has deplored the tendency of petitioners entering the gates of Parliament Building to present their petitions, saying that would be compromising security of the National Assembly.

Msowoya condemned a group of traditional leaders who walked to Parliament building to present the petition to leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera, who was accompanied by opposition lawmakers and some independent legislators, saying that could be a security breach.

He said all petitioners should be met outside parliament premises.

“I ask members of the House to please abide by the Standing Orders and provisions on the processing of petitions,” said the Speaker.

“One person is identified to receive the petition on behalf of all members and these people [petitioners] are not, in any way, allowed to come into parliament.”

Chakwera and the opposition MPs trooped outside the House to receive the petition from Chiefs after learning that they were bared and harassed by police at the Parliament building.

But Speaker said he was concerned on security of members of parliament.

“These are issues of security and when something happens you will blame me, saying I did not do enough to help you when you have compromised your own security.

“These are issues if importance and must be taken as such,” said the Speaker.

In the petition, the chiefs warned President Peter Mutharika and his administration to discard the newly passed Customary Land Bill.