CSOs question MPs Unga role

Some civil society organisations (CSOs) have questioned the rationale behind inclusion of five members of Parliament (MPs) on Malawi’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (Unga) summit claiming their trip to the US was a demonstration of politics of patronage.

But the government has justified the inclusion, claiming the legislators were included to fill the gaps after the original list of delegates to the Unga summit held from September 18-22 this year, was trimmed to 35.

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and Centre for Transparency and Accountability (Csat) faulted government for their handling of the MPs’ who took the trip as technical advisers, yet they had no defined role.

The MPs are Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Joyce Chitsulo, who is also Public Appointments Committee chairperson, Malawi Congress Party’s Noah Chimpeni, Arnold Kadzanja, Bennex Mwamlima and Peter Mazizi.

When asked why the MPs were included, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said the legislators were already in the United States and were included to fill the gaps in the delegation.

He explained: “Due to the trimming of the list, we had gaps and needed our representation in other engagements. We took advantage of the presence of few other ministers and parliamentarians who were already in America attending a sponsored leadership workshop.”

Ironically, the names of the parliamentarians were  on the initial list which Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo endorsed to be government representatives at the New York summit held from September 18-22 this year. 

When we put this to Kunkuyu, he responded: “I have not seen the list before trimming to see which ones still made it into the 35-member delegation or which ones were added right in the USA.”

Asked what were the roles of the parliamentarians when they were filling up the said gaps, the Minister snapped: “This can be obtained from Parliament because an invitation for MPs to attend any activities outside the country goes through the office of the Speaker.”

Parliament’s chief public relations officer Gerald Kampani had not responded to our questionnaire as we went to press yesterday.

Kunkuyu further said five ministers also made the trip. They are Minister of Finance Sosten Gwengwe, Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources Michael Usi, Health Khumbize Chiponda and Trade Simplex Chithyola Banda

Asked what was her role, Mwanza West Constituency parliamentarian Joyce Chitsulo, said yesterday: “muwafunse omwe anatitengawo [ask those who delegated us].”

In an interview, Bennex Mwamlima , who represents Mzuzu City Constituency confirmed being part of the delegation. He said the trip was beneficial to the MPs because they were connected to potential donors.

“We were introduced to some rich people and we presented our challenges in our constituencies such as lack of desks.

“There’s great chance that we will get desks and other support from that side,” he said.

He further stated that the trip offered him a chance to appreciate how advanced life in America is.

We could not get hold of Noah Chimpeni, the Nkhata Bay South East legislator through his mobile phones.

However, Nkhotakota Central MP Peter Mazizi and Arnold Kadzanja (Ntchisi North) did not respond to our questionnaires sent on Friday via their WhatsApp.

Parliament’s chief public relations officer Gerald Kampani had not responded to our questionnaire as we went to press yesterday.

CCJP  national coordinator Boniface Chibwana, in a response to our questionnaire said: “The revelation that MPs were part of the delegation is very unfortunate as MPs are supposed to provide checks and balances to the Executive.

“We need few technical people to join few executive members if the talk of austerity measures will be actualised.

“MPs should stick to Parliamentary business if their oversight role is to be meaningful.

Politics of patronage is not helping this country as it is clearly seen on this trip.”

Csat executive director Willy Kambwadira said government’s failure to clearly spell out why the MPs were in the delegation, shows they had nothing to do in the US.

 “Government’s explanation that the MPs were only added to cover up gaps after the delegation trim, when the reality seems to be that they were already on the original list, shows how this administration takes Malawians for granted.

 “The delegates use taxpayers’ funds therefore transparency and accountability should unreservedly be the guiding principle.

“The Parliamentarians, our suspicion is that they just went there just to enjoy taxpayers’ money,” he said.

He further suggested that such MPs conduct risks comprising their role of preventing the Executive from abusing its powers.

 “To say the least this is regrettable, does not demonstrate prudent use of taxpayers’ money. It is very unfortunate to see people who are supposed to provide oversight in the use of public resources not leading by example.

“Let the MPs explain to Malawians what they were doing at Unga. They used public resources and they have to account for it,” Kambwandira said.

Other members of the delegation included Malawi Defence Force officers, presidential advisers and executives from ministries, departments and agencies.