Parliament gets closer to autonomy
Parliament has finalised a report making recommendations that will result in law amendments in a bid to ensure its independence and autonomy from Executive interference in its funding and administration.
The development of the amendment bills follows a motion Ntchisi North legislator Boniface Kadzamira (Independent) tabled and Parliament adopted in February 2016.
The Legal Affairs Committee has finalised the report with plans to present it to the plenary next Wednesday with proposed amendments to several legislations, among them the Parliamentary Service Act, National Assembly Emoluments Act, Public Finance Management Act and the Constitution.
In an interview after deliberating on the report, Legal Affairs Committee chairperson Maxwell Thyolera said they have come up with recommendations which, upon adoption by the House, will culminate in tabling of bills containing various amendments.
He said: “This exercise has been Parliament-driven through the committee but we are confident of support from the government. We are sure this will receive overwhelming support from both sides because it is not this Parliament that will benefit but the next one.”
The tabling of the report was expected to be presented to the Business Committee yesterday so it could start appearing on the Order Paper as notice.
The Legal Affairs Committee is one of four committees that have benefited from the Malawi Parliament Enhancement Project, funded by the Norwegian Government, which aims to build and strengthen accountability of Parliament.
African Institute for Policy Development (Afidep) has facilitated the development of the report, including visits to Parliaments in the region, to learn how the legislature operates.
Afidep executive director Eliya Zulu said the organisation was promoting use of evidence in decision- making processes of institutions such as Parliaments.
Among other things, the move for autonomy of Parliament has included changes in how salaries of the Speaker and deputies are determined as well as autonomy to determine salaries of members of Parliament.
Currently, these cannot be implemented without a nod from the President.
The report also seeks to protect the approved budget of the National Assembly by listing it under Section 183 of the Constitution as protected expenditure.
