Speaker reprimands Kabwila, Kaliati

The bad blood that simmers between minister of gender, children, disability and social welfare Patricia Kaliati and Member of Parliament (MP) for Salima North West Constituency Jessie Kabwila boiled over in Parliament on Monday, prompting the Speaker to censure the two for bringing personal issues into House debates.

It is not clear what issues are between the two MPs, but Kaliati took exception to Kabwila’s questions on how the ministry would ensure that gender mainstreaming is not policy-based, but evidence-based.

Speaker Richard Msowoya intervened and said: “This is a plea that we ensure there’s peaceful debate. This is a House of representatives and whatever we say here is a representation of the people outside who brought us here. We shouldn’t personalise isssues.”

Kabwila’s remarks, which irked Kaliati, followed her ministerial statement on her ministry’s plans for 2014/15.

“From the State of the Nation Address and the Cabinet, it is clear that this government has marginalised gender,” Kabwila said in response.

But Kaliati blamed Kabwila for not using her activism before she joined the House to lobby for more women to enter Parliament.

Kaliati also implied that Kabwila refused to serve Malawians when she was offered a Cabinet post.