Uladi says DPP is ‘too casual’ in solving issues of national importance: Ministers slammed for absenteeism

Leader of People’s Party (PP) in Parliament and the party’s acting president Uladi Mussa has condemned Cabinet ministers who are  consistently absent from the House and stifling parliamentary business, saying the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lacks seriousness in issues of national importance.

Mussa said absence of ministers hurts business in Parliament.

On Thursday  -which was a Private Member’s Day – over five questions for Ministries of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and Finance , Economic Planning and Development  were skipped  because responsible ministers were absent in the House.

Other ministers walked in the House way to late and Government Chief Whip Henry Mussa had to offer apologies on behalf of the absent ministers.

Mussa said Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe was not in the House because he was preparing to present the national budget on Friday.

“Others have gone out to do equally important duties outside this House,” said the Chief Whip for government.

But PP’s leader said the DPP administration lacked seriousness.

“This government is too casual in solving issues of national importance,” said PP’s Mussa.

Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya expressed disappointment with the rate of absenteeism which was not limited to the front bench, but also to the back benchers.

“Honourable Members stand on behalf of the people they represent to ask these questions and the government decides that they can play games and say, we are late. It is not right. Let us be serious. This is a House for Malawians, it is not my House, it is not Members’ House and it is the National Assembly.  I urge government to be very serious when dealing with issues coming from the Honourable Members. This is my plea,” Msowoya said.