DPP wants to speak on hunger

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader in Parliament Mary Navicha has faulted Parliament for denying her party an opportunity to speak on the declaration of a State of Disaster in the country.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, she said the DPP hoped it would be given space to speak having earlier brought the issue before the National Assembly.

The Thyolo Thava lawmaker said hunger is a serious issue and there is need for the main opposition party to speak on the State of Disaster.

Said Navicha: “The leader of the House advised us to be following procedures, but even those that follow procedures the floor is not being given to them. Is that fair?”

In response, Fi r s t Deputy Speaker Madalitso Kazombo said Navicha had raised an important issue and noted that Thyolo Central legislator Ben Phiri (DPP) also stood on the same.

He committed to follow up on the issue.

Said Kazombo: “What Thyolo Central said is exactly what you have said. We will make a follow up, probably Thursday space will be provided.”

Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda concurred with Navicha that she raised the matter, but said the issue was to come soon after question time and Parliament did not handle question time yesterday.

He said: “She raised t h a t m a t t e r u n d e r Standing Order 14 which says soon after question time. We were in the committee of supply and there has never been question time.

“The standing order she raised was Standing Order 14, so soon after any question time she will be given time.”

Pres ident Lazarus Chakwera on March 24 declared a State of Disaster in 23 out of the country ’s 28 districts affected by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

The districts are Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Phalombe, Blanytre, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Zomba, Mangochi, Balaka, Machinga, Mwanza, Neno, Salima, Mchinji, Dowa, Dedza, Lilongwe, Ntchisi, Ntcheu, Nkhotakota, Kasungu and Karonga. The President said it was estimated that close to 600 000 metric tonnes of maize valued at K357.6 billion will be required for the humanitarian response.