Lazarus Chakwera to appear in Parliament over cyclone
By Cathy Maulidi:
President Lazarus Chakwera is Wednesday expected to appear before Parliament to deliver a statement and take questions from members of Parliament (MPs) on issues related to Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
According to a memo sent to MPs, the President is expected to deliver his statement from 2pm.
“I have received a notice that, following the tragic Tropical Cyclone Freddy, His Excellency the President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera will deliver a statement in the House on the matter on Wednesday, 22nd March 2023, at 2pm,” a memo from Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara to lawmakers and Cabinet ministers reads.
Reacting to this, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa welcomed the move, saying the President continues to abide by the House’s Standing Orders and the Constitution on appearing in Parliament.
“This is also a welcome development considering that Tropical Cyclone Freddy is now a matter of national interest. So, we are eagerly waiting for the President.
“Members have not sent questions to the President; there are no prepared questions but, this being a national issue, we expect him to respond to any question on the cyclone,” Nankhumwa said.
The Leader of Opposition has also called for an extension of time for MPs to ask questions.
“We will need more than one-hour-and-a-half to ask questions because this is a serious and very important matter affecting the whole nation,” Nankhumwa said.
Normally, the President spends one hour 30 minutes taking questions from legislators in the House.
Parliament is expected to reconvene Wednesday after Gotani Hara suspended its resumption for two days in the wake of Cyclone Freddy-induced devastation.
