Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman says he has embarked on a mission to ensure Parliament achieves financial autonomy to successfully perform its oversight role over the Executive.
He observed that Parliament has not been doing much of what it is supposed to do because it relies on the same Executive to fund its programmes.
| Courtesy of Parliament
Suleman revealed this in Blantyre on Thursday when he engaged the private sector as part of his strategy to open up Parliament to the people and involve them in parliamentary business.
He said: “It is an open secret that you can’t go and investigate someone who is feeding you, that is what is happening now. We are given a very critical role of oversight, yet that oversight relies on the Executive arm to fund us to perform it.
“If you are now investigating or enquiring from the Executive arm and there are issues that will expose them, definitely you will not get funding. So, I have embarked on this initiative to make sure that Parliament gets full autonomy.”
Suleman said Malawi’s economy is run by the private sector and assists the government in several ways, including creating employment, hence the need to engage them to hear their views.
“There are some laws that govern us that are old or expired and need polishing, but there may also be a need to form new laws. That can only happen if we are moved to do that.”
Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Wisely Phiri said it was the first time Parliament has engaged the private sector in the manner it did on the day.
He said the private sector, for example, is consulted ahead of national budget sessions, but after that there has not been much conversation.
Said Phiri: “Parliament is supposed to be for the people and our laws are made in Parliament. As the private sector, there are a number of issues where these laws apply to us as part of the larger community.
“Having these conversations with members of Parliament and the Speaker is something that is really important and something that we look forward to as a chamber.”
In her speech, Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba said Parliament needs support in several ways, including maintaining the Parliament building in Lilongwe.
