MALAWI: Justice and Peace Commission calls for action against MPs dodging Parliament sessions.
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has added its voice in condemning the continued absenteeism of Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Assembly sessions saying it is denying the citizens their fundamental right of being represented in the house.
The call came after the recent trends of some Mps dodging the parliament sessions something which was condemned by the Speaker of the Parliament, Honorable Richard Msowoya. Mr Speaker also wanted to reinforce the decision by the Business Committee which is made up of members from the ruling party and the opposition to forfeit their allowances. However, the trend seemed to be continuing.
The CCJP Acting National Coordinator, Martin Chiphwanya said that Members of Parliament are supposed to represent their people from the constituents who voted them to their positions hence, should actively participate and take part in business of national assembly, where issues regarding the welfare of the people are deliberated.
“Members of Parliament become leaders because people vote for them to represent them in
parliament. By choosing to skip parliament session without genuine valid reasons, they betray the people who gave them the mandate to represent them,” Mr. Chiphwanya said.
Acting Coordinator
Catholic Commission for
Justice and Peace-Malawi
He said, “Citizens should strongly protest against these MPs and demand explanations from them. Most importantly, constituents should be bold enough not to vote for these MPs again because they have deliberately chosen to abandon them.”
MPs absenteeism has become a serious problem in the country. Speaker Msowoya had once said that absenteeism of MPs was denting the image of Parliament in the eyes of the public and having a negative effect on businesses on the floor.
“In view of this observation, the Committee of Chairs supported by the leaders of political parties represented in the Business Committee, resolved that with immediate effect, the office should recover the allowances from members who do not attend the plenary and committee meetings without valid reasons as required by Standing Order no. 41,” said the Speaker.
Members of Parliament get approximately US Dollars 56 (Malawian Kwacha 40,000) per day as subsistence allowance and approximately US Dollars 14 (Malawian Kwacha 10,000) sitting allowance which is paid out before the meeting starts.
Standing Orders 41 (3) states: “A member who is absent without seeking leave of absence shall forfeit all allowances during the period of absence.”
The Speaker can grant leave of absence, according to Standing Orders 206 (3), on two grounds of i.e. illness or family emergency and attending to public business locally or abroad.
By Prince Henderson-ECM Communications Officer
