The proposal by the Speaker of the National Assembly to establish 12 joint parliamentary committees to investigate various national issues of concern may, at first sight, appear to be a good idea. We know that Parliament has a clear oversight role, and we recognise the importance of holding government and public institutions accountable.
That said, I have some reservations about the approach and, more importantly, the actual purpose and value of creating 12 joint committees.
Many have already commented on this, and I respect their views. I do not want to be controversial simply for the sake of it. But even if I stand alone, that will not bother me. What matters is standing by a position that I honestly believe is in the best interest of the country.
Let me be very clear: I fully recognise the oversight role of Parliament. It is an important part of our democracy. But we must also understand that Parliament does not operate in isolation. Malawi already has institutions created to investigate, audit, regulate and deal with many of the issues that appear to be the subject of these proposed parliamentary investigations.
For example, we have the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Office of the Auditor General, the Ombudsman, the Malawi Human Rights Commission, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority, the Financial Intelligence Authority and law enforcement agencies, among other institutions with specific mandates.
My question is simple: Did the Speaker fully consider the existing institutions and their mandates before proposing 12 new joint parliamentary committees?
If Parliament creates committees to investigate matters that could be handled by these institutions, are we not creating duplication? Is this not also weakening the very institutions that were established to perform these functions professionally and independently?
And imagine the resources required to run 12 parliamentary committees. There will be meetings, allowances, transport, accommodation, research, administrative support, hearings, travel and many other costs.
At a time when Malawians are struggling to access basic necessities, should we really be celebrating a process that could consume significant public resources?
Personally, I will not celebrate this simply because it comes from the Speaker. We must ask whether it is the best use of public resources.
There is also a concern about political influence. Parliamentary committees are made up of politicians, yet some of the matters under investigation may involve politicians themselves. This raises legitimate questions about independence and impartiality.
If we are serious about fighting corruption, investigations must be protected from political interests and handled by institutions that can act independently. We cannot effectively fight corruption by allowing politicians to lead every investigation.
Perhaps, what we need is a special commission made up of eminent and independent individuals with unquestionable integrity, professional experience and public confidence. Such a commission could work closely with the ACB and other relevant institutions. Parliament would still exercise its oversight role by receiving reports, scrutinising findings and demanding action.
I therefore support the principle of the Speaker, through Parliament, taking action on issues affecting Malawians. But I would not celebrate a process that I fear could become business as usual, duplicate existing work and drain resources that Malawi badly needs elsewhere.
Let us celebrate the Speaker’s proposal, yes—but let us do so with our eyes and ears open.
Oversight must not be about showing that we are doing something. It must be about doing the right thing, through the right institutions, at the right cost and for the right purpose.
And this brings me to the difference between wisdom and intelligence.
In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the elder Ezeudu warned Okonkwo not to take part in Ikemefuna’s death, saying that the boy called him father. Ezeudu understood something that Okonkwo failed to understand: being intelligent is not the same as being wise.
Intelligence may tell us that we have the power and authority to do something. Wisdom asks us whether we are doing it right.
May God bless Mother Malawi!
