On Tuesday, the National Assembly presented a picture that should trouble every Malawian who believes in representative democracy. Out of 224 confirmed members of Parliament (MPs), 159 were absent.
Fol l owi ng the 2025 parliamentary election, the Malawi Electoral Commission confirmed 224 MPs out of 229 constituencies, with five seats still vacant due to nullifications, postponements, or other irregularities. In practical terms, the country currently has 224 legislators expected to sit, debate, and represent citizens. Yet on that day, only 65 showed up. In percentage terms, nearly 70 percent of the House was empty.
Let us pause on that reality. Because 70 percent absenteeism is not just a matter of attendance, it is a national embarrassment! It demonstrates a lack of respect for voters, for the institution of Parliament, and for the taxpayers who finance it.
Malawians take elections seriously. In fact, the September 16 2025 General Election sent a powerful message on accountability. Out of the 193 MPs who served in the 2019- 2025 cohort, only 70, or just 36 percent, were retained by voters. In other words, nearly two-thirds of incumbents were shown the exit. That is democracy at work, and a clear signal that constituents expect performance, visibility, and responsiveness.
The majority of current MPs are, therefore, new faces. They entered Parliament on a fresh mandate, buoyed by public hope and expectation. If anything, one would expect this new crop of legislators to be especially determined to prove themselves worthy of the trust placed in them.
Instead, what we witnessed was a chamber with more empty seats than occupied ones.
Some may argue that new MPs are still adjusting, but that argument does not hold water. All legislators underwent orientation to familiarise themselves with parliamentary procedures, responsibilities, and expectations. Orientation is not a ceremonial exercise. It is designed to ensure that from day one, members understand the seriousness of their role. Hence discipline is not optional.
Moreover, this is not volunteer work. MPs receive salaries and sitting allowances funded by taxpayers. The allowances are specifically meant to facilitate their presence and participation in parliamentary business. When MPs fail to attend without seeking permission, they are effectively drawing public funds without rendering the service those funds are meant to support. That is unacceptable.
The vegetable vendor in Lilongwe’s Mtandire, the smallholder farmer in Ntcheu, the minibus conductor in Blantyre, and the civil servant in Mzuzu all contribute, directly or indirectly, to the public purse. They do not have the luxury of skipping work without consequence. Why should their elected representatives operate under a different standard?
The absence of 159 MPs without prior permission from the Speaker signals complacency at a time when the country faces enormous economic pressure, youth unemployment, food insecurity, and strained public services. These issues require a fully-functioning Parliament, one that debates rigorously, scrutinises policies, and holds the Executive to account.
To his credit, First Deputy Speaker Victor Musowa did not take the matter lightly. His warning that legislators who miss sittings without permission will face sanctions, including loss of allowances, was both necessary and welcome.
But Malawians will be watching closely.
We have heard stern words before. What will make a difference now is enforcement. If allowances are to be withheld, they must, indeed, be withheld. If sanctions are prescribed in the Standing Orders, they must be applied consistently and transparently. Without consequences, absenteeism will persist and a culture of seriousness cannot take root.
Parliament is the heartbeat of our democracy, and when its functions falter, the cost is borne by ordinary citizens.
The fact that 64 percent of former MPs were voted out should serve as a caution to the current cohort. Malawians have demonstrated that they are willing to use the ballot to reward performance and punish complacency. No seat is guaranteed.
The new MPs, especially, should see this as a defining moment. They have an opportunity to set a higher standard, to show that this Parliament will be different, more disciplined, more accountable, more present. But that transformation begins with the basics; attend sittings, participate actively, and respect the rules of the House.
From where I stand, empty seats in a chamber of 224 are not just numbers on a register. They represent communities whose concerns go unheard during debates that shape national policy.
MPs should honour their mandate and respect the taxpayer. The House leadership must not let the threat of sanctions be mere lip service, but the beginning of a new culture of responsibility in our National Assembly. Because a House that is 70 percent empty cannot fully carry the hopes of a nation.
If sanctions are prescribed in the Standing Orders, they must be applied consistently and transparently .
