Parliament changes colours in chamber

 Parliament has changed colours of the chamber’s seat covers from blue widely associated with the former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to national colours of black, red and green.

Since the inauguration of the new Parliament in Lilongwe in 2010 during the DPP administration, the seat covers were blue associated with the party’s colours.

But yesterday, when Parliament started its fifth meeting of the 50th Session, there was a complete change in the outlook of the chamber as seats were covered in the national colours; black, red and green. Besides, there is also the Malawi Government coat of arms and Parliament mace printed on them.

Ironically, the governing Tonse Alliance key partner Malawi Congress Party shares the national colours of black, red and green.

Announcing the changes, Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara said the blue covers were worn out and the changes were made to depict national colours.

“This has been done after observing that we have used the previous seat covers for over 10 years and most of them were not in good condition,” she said.

However, blue seat covers in the gallery have been maintained despite some of them being worn out.

Speaking in an interview, Leader of Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda said the opposition does not mind the new colours as what is

 important is the outcome of the deliberations.

He said: “Of course the blue colour was favourable to us in the sense that we are DPP. But now we know that there is another colour, no problem, that’s fine.”

The House is expected to meet for four weeks to deliberate on bills, ministerial statements and questions.