Peter Mutharika dodges MPs’ questions
President Peter Mutharika has said he will not be personally available in Parliament after four Members of Parliament sent questions to him, through the office of the Speaker.
Two of the MPs who sent the questions to the President are Leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera, and Mzimba South West MP and former state vice president Khumbo Kachali.
Rumphi East MP Kamplepo Kalua and Nkhotakota South East legislator, Everson Makowa Mwale, were the other two.
According to Msowoya, the questions were sent under Standing Order 70.
“I forwarded the questions to the President who has since indicated that he will not be personally available to answer the questions in the Chamber. Instead, the President has delegated the relevant ministers to answer the questions on his behalf,” Msowoya said.
He added: “In this regard, the business committee this morning agreed that some questions will be taken on Wednesday 16th March 2016, particularly those delegated to the Minister of Finance. The other questions will be answered on Friday 18th March, 2016. Notices will be circulated to the House.”
Standing Order 70 talks about questions to the President.
It reads: “Questions to the President shall be taken on Wednesdays after routine business until afternoon tea-break. (3) Questions to the President shall be in writing. (4) Three supplementary questions shall be allowed on any question to the President provided that the owner of the question shall be given an opportunity.”
Kamlepo once raised the issue of food shortage and the country’s dwindling economy in the House as two of the issues Mutharika should provide answers to. These could be the issues he forwarded to the President.
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