MPs in walkout drama

Members of Parliament (MPs) made use of their last full day in the Chamber yesterday by working hard, but not without the drama of a walkout by opposition members at one precarious point.

First, the MPs passed a motion allowing the House to table a Bill on the provision of stipends for people above 65.

Then there was the need to thrash out the Financial Services (Amendment) Bill which seeks, among other issues, to put limits on how much interest rates banks, microfinance institutions, Saccos and other lenders can put on loans.

This Bill courted controversies, with accusations that there had been questionable posturing over how to block or pass it. The House ended up referring the Bill to relevant committees for further scrutiny as Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe noted that there were some areas that needed further scrutiny.

The mover of the Bill, Dowa West MP Alexander Kusamba Dzonzi (Malawi Congress Party-MCP), agreed that the Bill be referred to relevant committees.

But in a dramatic turn of events, opposition MPs yesterday afternoon walked out of the Chamber in disagreement over a motion that sought the House to proceed with general business, as moved by MP for Blantyre City Central Themba Mkandawire (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP).

Mkandawire’s request was that all relevant orders be waived for the House to tackle question and answer for oral replies. This irritated the opposition members because yesterday was a Private Members’ Day whereby they call the shots on the floor.

A misunderstanding ensued on both sides, which saw Speaker Richard Msowoya ordering a voice vote to resolve the division.

Standing on point of order, before leaving the House, MP for Dowa East Richard Chimwendo Banda (MCP) said government was taking people’s lives for granted by apparently trying to stop the House from passing two important Bills–the Financial Services Act and the Medicinal and Industrial Hemp bill.

But the walkout was short-lived for it was business as usual for the remainder of the day.

MP for Zomba Changalume John Chikalimba (People’s Party-PP) moved the motion on the elderly in the House, saying the elderly need financial support because they face many challenges, including chronic illnesses, widowhood and disabilities.

He informed the House that fellow African countries like Kenya, Zambia and Botswana are implementing the initiative.

The motion comes in the wake of utterances by Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is also leader of UTM party, that if he wins the presidency in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections, he will introduce a scheme to uplift the welfare of the elderly.

The current 47th session of the 4th meeting of Parliament is expected complete its business today, before the House rises and die (indefinitely).