Readers outline expectations from Parliament
When Parliament announced that it would meet from Monday this week for the Mid-Term Budget Review, Nation Online (www.mwnation.com) asked its readers what issues they want the meeting to prioritise.
From the responses via Malawi Nation Facebook page, disaster, Cashgate, security, economy, National Aids Commission (NAC) scandal, industrial actions (strikes), Public Service Reforms, bills (Marriage, Mining), federalism and environment (issues related to Chikangawa/Dzalanyama/Kayelekera spill) topped the list.
Overall, respondents said members of Parliament (MPs) should prioritise disaster preparedness, economy and security as well as support public service reforms, in that order.
While others came up with additional issues of national importance, a majority said MPs should critically examine the floods and the damage they have caused.
“[On] disaster and current floods, what lessons have we drawn? Power cuts, water shortages, collapsing of houses, and what should be done to mitigate such loss in future?” wrote Madimbo Joseph on our Facebook wall.
“Government must [also] prioritise UN Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] and what is in the challenge account,” he added.
Kenneth Kamwana said he wants Parliament to sort out the mess that has been causing delays in payment of teachers’ salaries.
“Some teachers have gone unpaid for nine months, this is one issue that must be discussed,” Kamwana commented.
Victor Chimalizeni agreed with Kamwana and thinks that teachers in the country are underrated.
“Kuchedwa kulemba ntchito aphunzitsi ndi kuwapatsa masalaries mochedwa, pamene ena ngati apolisi akangomaliza training amakhala akuyambiratu ntchito. Kodi tinene kuti ndalama zolembera ntchito anthu m’boma lathuli zikusowa kwa aphunzitsi basi. [Trained teachers are not employed and those employed are not paid on time, yet when police trainees graduate, they enter full employment with government, is our government only broke when it comes to teachers’ perks],” said Chimalizeni.
Others such as Symon Katundu thought the Land Bill must also be top of the agenda list because the country’s land is being misused and abused by foreigners.
“Land Bill please, our land is being grabbed by foreigners,” he added.
