Malawi government clarifies on Mutharika’s speech
Malawi government has clarified that during the opening of the 46th Session of
Parliament, President Peter Mutharika did not deliver a State of the Nation Address.
Following continued reference to the speech as State of the Nation Address, Leader of the House on Tuesday explained that Mutharika delivered a statement to the House.
“Mr Second Deputy Speaker, my honourable colleague who has just resumed her seat, has repeatedly talked about State of the Nation Address. I would like to put it on record that what the President presented to the House is ‘A Statement on the Occasion of State Opening of the 46th Session of Parliament’ and not the State of the Nation Address,” Kasaila said.
He rose on point of order after Salima North West MP, Jessie Kabwila, had just finished contributing to the debate on the speech.
“There are people in Salima North West who sleep on an empty stomach but the State of the Nation Address did not even recognise that. Instead, there was a lot of cosmetic discussion on hunger and how it is going to be fought. As I am talking, there are patients who have a circular written, put on paper that they will be eating ‘phala’ in the morning and one meal in the afternoon, because of the budget cuts, as if they are prisoners,” Kabwila said.
She added: “When they heard of State of the Nation Address being given, they expected to actually hear how they will be fed in hospitals.”
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