Lawmakers start meeting in Lilongwe today to mark the Fifth Meeting of the National Assembly in the 50th Session of Parliament.
And social and political commentators have asked members of Parliament (MPs) to prioritise economic and food security issues.
They say lawmakers would do the country an injustice if they do not gauge progress of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme during their four-week meeting, which ends on September 20.
On his part, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda told The Daily Times that during the meeting, legislators would tackle bills, ministerial statements, standing committee reports as well as questions on Standing Order 69 and 14.
Asked on the crucial bills expected to be tabled during the meeting, Chimwendo Banda, who is also Minister of Local Government, said finer details would be shared this morning.
Weighing in on the issue, Human Rights Defenders Coalition Chairperson Gift Trapence said MPs must focus on issues such as the performance of the economy.
Trapence said the issue of economic performance “should be treated as a crisis”.
“We need Parliament to discuss measures pertaining to how the Malawi Government can recover from the economic meltdown that has affected the lives of Malawians and businesses.
“We need Parliament to propose solutions to economic challenges. As at now, it is business as usual. We need Parliament to discuss how government can control ballooned expenditure and appetite for borrowing. This is what is affecting our economy,” Trapence said.
He added that HRDC also expects Parliament to discuss food security issues in the country,.
“People in the southern part of Malawi harvested little and we have millions of Malawians who will be affected by hunger.
“As such, we need the government to come up with clear mitigation measures to avert a situation where citizens start dying from hunger,” Trapence said.
In March this year, President Lazarus Chakwera declared a State of Disaster in 23 out of 28 districts of the country after El-Nino ravaged some parts of the country.
Due to the weather phenomenon, some parts of the country faced dry spells while others had incidences of floods.
On his part, People’s Federation for National Peace and Development Executive Director Edward Chaka said the MPs should hold the government accountable on its global peace commitments.
His sentiments come after, in May this year, Malawi ratified the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), a multilateral treaty that regulates the international trade in conventional weapons.
The treaty entered into force on December 24 2014. At the time, 113 states had ratified the treaty, with a further 28 states, including Malawi, signing but failing short of ratifying it.
“Since, this year, Malawi joined countries that signed and ratified the ATT, we expect MPs to follow up on the issue with responsible ministries so that Malawians may know what exactly Malawi has committed to.
“We know that Malawi has been playing a key role in peace efforts, including in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, work that has won Malawi Defence Force soldiers global acclaim. Now Malawians want to know what the new commitment will translate into for Malawi.
“Otherwise, we reiterate our position that the country did a wonderful thing by ratifying the treaty,” Chaka said.
He said security is the bedrock of national and global development, such that MPs should start developing interest in such issues.
In an instrument of ratification, Foreign Affairs Minister Nancy Tembo indicated that the country signed it on May this year.
“Government of Malawi Instrument of Ratification: Arms Trade Treaty. Whereas the Arms Trade Treaty entered into force on 24th December 2024; whereas the Government of Malawi signed the treaty on 9th January 2014; and whereas it is the wish of the Government of Malawi to ratify the said treaty; Now therefore, I, Nancy Tembo, M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi, do hereby notify and confirm, in accordable with Article 21 of the Treaty, that the Republic of Malawi ratifies the same. Done under my hand and seal at Lilongwe this 30th day of May 2024,” the instrument of ratification reads.
On his part, governance commentator Wonderful Mkhutche said he expects lawmakers to prioritise issues such as food security and economic performance.
“Most communities are struggling to access food and this is an issue of national priority. Parliamentarians must quiz the government on this matter and help in improving the situation.
“Second, we have to look at the issue of the International Monetary Fund’s ECF. How are we, as a country, doing? What are we doing to ensure that we leverage on the facility?” Mkhutche said.
