Parliament Wednesday cleared Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda from allegations made by Blantyre City South East lawmaker Sameer Suleman on Tuesday.
The development comes after Suleman failed to bring evidence to substantiate his allegations that Chithyola Banda abused Global Fund money while working at a local nongovernmental organisation.
On Tuesday, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Madalitso Kazombo ordered Suleman to bring evidence on the allegations by 2pm Wednesday.
However, Second Deputy Speaker Aisha Adams told the House that, at that time, Suleman had failed to bring the evidence.
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“I wish to inform the House that the honourable member has not submitted any evidence as ordered…
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“Consequently, I rule as follows:
“Whatever the honourable member for Blantyre City South East alleged and said should be removed from the National Assembly official records,” Adams said.
The ruling did not go down well with members of Parliament (MPs) on the government side, who expected Parliament to slap Suleman with a “harsh penalty”.
Government Chief Whip Jacob Hara asked Adams that the Business Committee of Parliament should meet and look at the conduct of Suleman of “making wild allegations” against various lawmakers.
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Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda then moved an adjournment motion to pave the way for a Business Committee of Parliament meeting which lasted close to one-and-a-half hours.
When the House reconvened around 4:30pm, Adams announced that the committee had agreed that the day’s normal business should continue with a report on repair works of Kapichira Hydropower Station by the Natural Resources and Environment Committee of Parliament.
In an interview, Chimwendo Banda said the Business Committee agreed that it would not be in order to make new laws to punish an individual member but that the committee agreed to ask the Legal Affairs Committee to look into how MPs who opt to bring other lawmakers into disrepute should be disciplined.
Suleman was not immediately available for a comment Wednesday.
In an interview, Chithyola Banda said he would not be distracted by “petty issues” in his quest to find solutions to the country’s economy.
“Malawi is going through a very difficult moment which requires collective efforts. We need prayers and we need unity of purpose. My focus as Minister of Finance is on economic recovery,” the minister said.
