Chakwera back in Parliament today
President Lazarus Chakwera will today take questions from legislators in Parliament arising from the State of the Nation Address (Sona) he delivered in the House on May 12 2021.
During today ’s appearance, the President will respond to questions from Mzimba Solola member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Hara (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) and Ntcheu Central MP Albert Mbawala (MCP) before going into general responses.
According to the Order Paper, an outline of a day’s parliamentary business, Hara will ask the President to explain how he will ensure that the budget formulation process and government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) align themselves to the national agenda and vision as outlined in his Sona.
On the other hand, Mbawala will ask the President about strategies put in place to increase power generation in the country considering that energy is crucial to achieving key priorities.
Thereafter, according to the Order Paper, the President will make general responses to reactions MPs have made so far to his Sona delivered at the opening of the 49th Session of Parliament.
Mulanje Bale MP Victor Musowa (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) has also expressed interest to ask the President to maintain the current Cabinet.
His question comes against the background of the public’s expectation for the President to hire a new Cabinet. During the swearing-in ceremony of the Cabinet last July, the President, amid criticism over the composition, pledged to assess the performance of his ministers by December and appoint a new team. However, to date, the President has not made any changes.
During the past two weeks, legislators have been responding to the President’s Sona with Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa setting the ball rolling.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Musowa claimed there were some MPs canvassing to be drafted into the Cabinet and asked the President to ignore such maneouvres.
He said the current ministers have worked in a tough environment wi th the Cov id-19 situation, but managed to deliver and prove their capabilities.
Musowa said: “The current Cabinet should be given a chance to continue. The ministers are friendly and are able to deliver.”
During the campaign ahead of the June 23 2020 Fresh Presidential Election, Chakwera committed to fulfil the constitutional requirement to appear before Parliament to take questions from MPs.
Thi s wil l b e the second time he will be in Parliament to respond to issues pertaining to his Sona, having done the same last September. The President has also appeared two other times in Parliament to answer questions.
