Speaker’s missing gown delays House meeting: Minister Tembenu quizzed on Malawi courts strike

Members of parliament were on Thursday delayed by at least 15 minutes as Speaker Richard Msowoya could not come on time.

As soon as he sat on his chair, Msowoya apologised for the delay, saying his gown which he puts on when chairing the meeting of parliament went missing.

“I had to look for it because I wanted to put it on today,” said Msowoya,  who is always on the dot during meetings of parliament.

As soon as he took his seat, serious business started as the legislators took Justice and Constitutional minister Samuel Tembenu to task over the strike by court magistrates.

Tembenu assured the House that the magistrates would be going back to work after Treasury has released the money.

He said Treasury has already released the money and what was left was for the ministry of Justice to write the magistrates, assuring them that the money for the housing allowances and arrears would be given this month end.

Tembenu said this process should not take more than a day.

The magistrates downed tools demanding the housing allowances and arrears and threatened High Court judges were ready to join the strike as a matter of solidarity.