Members of Parliament commended for commitment and dedication

Speaker of National Assembly Rgt Catherene Gotani Hara 

By Kondanani Chilimnthaka

On Friday, 8th December, 2023, Speaker of National Assembly, Catherine Gotani Hara commended Members of Parliament for their commitment and dedication throughout the four weeks the House has been meeting at Parliament building in Lilongwe.

Speaking before adjourning the House indefinitely, Hara said her office is so grateful for the gesture Members of Parliament demonstrated during their 3rd meeting in the 50th Session which include passing of the revised budget.

“Let me commend you all for successfully passing the 2023-2024 mid-year budget. Apart from passing the mid-year revised budget the House also tackled various business items including Bills, Ministerial Statements, and questions to Ministers for oral replies, as well as committee and delegation reports.

This was only possible due to your commitment, dedication, and hard work to Parliament duty and ultimately to the people that we represent” Said Hara.

However, the Speaker registered her dissatisfaction over conduct of some Members of the House who were absent without seeking their leave of absence and some who did not conduct themselves in an orderly manner during the period of meeting, saying as public figures they need to be exemplary as the conduct undermines the integrity of legislative obligations.

Said Gotani Hara; Let us remember that we are public figures and we transact our business in public. This therefore calls for strict adherence to procedures and decorum, constituencies are expecting a lot from us”

During the meeting, the House passed a revised budget of K4.3 trillion from K3.7 trillion which was presented in the House by Minister of Finance, Simplex Chithyola Banda on 20th November, 2023.