Speaker is crucial on Sec 65—PAC

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) yesterday told Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya that he is an important player in legal reforms as head of the Legislature.

PAC on Thursday met Msowoya and his team at the Parliament Building in Lilongwe over implementation of Section 65 and other constitutional issues.

In his speech made available to The Nation, PAC chairperson the Reverend Dr Felix Chingota urged Msowoya to use his powers in the implementation of Section 65 should situations arise.

Chingota said: “We further request you to work closely with us as we advocate constitutional review. Some recommendations in the 2007 Report of the Constitutional Review, if implemented, could help us deal with issues of Section 65 and other reforms in a clear-cut manner.

“Honourable, you will notice that we have Hon. Chimunthu Banda,

former speaker of the National Assembly, in our group. He has been our resource person to appreciate technicalities on Section 65.”

At one of the earlier meetings organised by PAC, Chingota said Justice Dunstain Mwaungulu, who represented the Chief Justice at the meeting, emphasised that the Speaker’s hands are not tied under the current law to evoke Section 65.

Chingota said: “The law still gives him/her powers where MPs have crossed the floor. It is our belief, therefore, that the practice on the application of Section 65 should be revisited by your office.

“All parties we met during interface meetings shared the view that this has not been adequately enforced . It is our demand that we see transformative leadership in this regard.”

The other issue PAC raised was to do with the electoral reforms, under which the committee is advocating 50+1 requirement for the presidential and parliamentary elections for one to be declared winner.