Parliament tightens security
In a move aimed at enhancing security at Parliament Building, the House has revised its standing orders to screen all dignitaries except the President and Vice-President before entering the premises.
Parliament has also proposed removal of waiver of notice and that instead there should be seven days notice before a Bill is circulated to members of Parliament (MPs).
The amendments by the Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament follow two incidents where former Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Clement Chiwaya shot himself inside the office of Clerk of Parliament in September and a loan authorisation Bill for construction of security agencies’ houses was ‘smuggled’ to Parliament during last meeting in July.
Legal Affairs Committee chairperson Peter Dimba on Monday informed Parliament during the opening of the fourth meeting of 49th Session that the committee resolved that there should be a complete ban on bringing weapons into the precincts of Parliament.
He said: “This House may wish to note that the security lapses which led to the suicide of the late former Second Deputy Speaker were experienced due to instructions that were given to security officers which exempted the political leadership, ministers and dignitaries from screening when entering Parliament precincts. The former deputy Speaker belonged to this category of exemption.”
Chiwaya , who last served in the 2014 to 2019 cohort of Parliament as Mangochi Central legislator, had been pushing to have his official vehicle ownership changed into his name having paid for the same.
However, Parliament took time to facilitate the arrangement even after the Office of Ombudsman ruled in his favour.
Commenting on the loan authorisation Bill from Bank of Baroda which mysteriously found its way on to the Order Paper, an official outline of business to be tackled in the House, Dimba said that the committee agreed to amend Standing Order 46(1) and 126 regarding placement of Business on the Order Paper by introducing at least seven days circulation before a Bill is read in the chamber.
Previously, Standing Orders allowed for a waiver of 28 day notice for Bills.
In August this year, President Lazarus Chakwera fired his special adviser on special duties Pastor Martin Thom over his alleged role in the ‘smuggling’ of the multi-billion kwacha loan authorisation Bill.
In his remarks, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo-Banda, who is also Minister of Homeland Security, pointed out that there is also need to tighten security of legislators when travelling as a group outside town.
He said: “Some people envy MPs too much and there is a need to look into that. My ministry is ready to work with the Parliamentary Service Commission to look at this issue seriously and come up with a way forward.”
