Nankhumwa dismissed on Israel evidence
Parliament yesterday went into a 30-minute recess to give Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara time to examine evidence presented by Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa on claims that the 221 youths who left for Israel on Saturday will join the war against Hamas.
On Thursday last week, Nankhumwa raised an allegation that government was sending the youth to join the on-going war between Israel and Hamas.
He was, therefore, ordered to bring evidence to the House yesterday.
However, despite bringing the evidence, Nankhumwa did not deposit it at the Speaker’s office as required.
Instead, he submitted it after the afternoon tea break, forcing the Speaker to suspend proceedings for over 45 minutes to examine it.
Hara told the House that after examining, the evidence, it does not support the allegations.
She said: “The so-called evidence does not in any way support the allegations that the Malawi youth are being sent to war.
“I, therefore, order that the evidence that was presented be circulated to all members and the media, and that the reference should be withdrawn and be scrapped from the record of the House.”
Reacting to the matter, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda said they insisted on the evidence so that Malawians should know the truth about the issue.
Clarifying the trip, Ministry of Labour Principal Secretary Wezi Kayira said exporting labour to various countries, including Israel, is one way of creating jobs for youth and generating foreign exchange for the country.
“This programme will benefit both individuals and the nation. A portion of wages will cover their living cost in Israel while the remainder will be remitted to personal accounts here in Malawi to boost foreign exchange,” he said in a statement released on Friday.
