It was business as usual in Parliament on Tuesday, with proceedings continuing despite rising tensions outside the House.
Sellers of second-hand clothes and other vendors in Lilongwe marched to Parliament to protest the rising cost of imported apparel.
During a question session with the Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda informed the presiding Speaker that vendors were outside the House to present a petition.
In response, First Deputy Speaker Madalitso Kazombo stated that it is common for people to present petitions to Parliament when they have grievances.
“This has always been the people’s House. Petitions are regularly presented,” he said, adding: “There are procedures for this.”
Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry, and Tourism chairperson Paul Nkhoma, Minister of Trade and Industry Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu, and Minister of Local Government Richard Chimwendo-Banda went out to address the vendors.
