House appoints only woman in governing body
Parliament on Friday appointed Nkhata Bay South Constituency parliamentarian Emily ChinthuPhiri (Independent) member of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
Her appointment is in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(1) (b) of the Parliamentary Service Act.
Chief whip Henry Mussa, who is also acting leader of the House in the absence of the office bearer Francis Kasaila, moved a motion in the august House to allow all members to agree on the appointment.
“I beg to move that the House resolves that Honourable Emily ChinthuPhiri, MP [member of Parliament] for Nkhata Bay South, be appointed as a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(1)(b) of the Parliamentary Service Act,” said Mussa.
Both leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera and leader of People’s Party (PP) in the House Uladi Mussa said they had no objection to the appointment.
According to the PP leader in the House, the opposition had no objection to the nomination of Chinthu Phiri because all commissioners in the PSC are men.
“We must be gender sensitive. So, we really appreciate and endorse the honourable member for Nkhata Bay South,” said Mussa.
In his remarks after the appointment, Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya, who is chairperson of PSC, congratulated Chinthu Phiri on her appointment.
He said as the governing body of Parliament, the PSC is an important arm in ensuring smooth operations of the House and that parliamentarians discharge their duties with diligence.
