‘Where is President Mutharika?’ Speaker rejects opposition leader’s point of order

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) on Monday queried the absence of  President Peter Mutharika in parliament during the opening of the  2019/20 National Budget session.

Leader of opposition Lobin Lowe stood  on point of order, saying President Mutharika needed to be in the House to address the nation  as part of accountability politics to oblige to the law requirement citing  Standing Order 200 which partly reads; “Immediately before the consideration of the national budget the president shall attend Parliament and address the assembly on the state of the nation and policies of the government”.

However, Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara said  there was nothing out of order because the President already addressed the nation during the opening of the 48th session.

When he delivered his State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the opening of  the 1st Meeting of the 48th Session of Parliament, Mutharika was  booed at by MCP lawmakers, who marched out in protest against his re-election as President.