House shoots down OPC cuts, passes budget

Parliament yesterday passed the 2015/16 financial year revised mid-term budget pegged  at K906.0 billion during a dramatic legislative day that saw an ill-fated attempt by the opposition to force Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe cut K1 billion from the allocation to Office of President and Cabinet (OPC).

Earlier, the opposition also failed to increase the amount allocated to the National Assembly vote which forced the House to suspend deliberations for over 30 minutes due to disagreements by the two sides.
Gondwe, alongside leaders of the opposition, met outside the House during the suspension and agreed on the concerns that an underfunded Parliament will not carry out its mandate.
The minister revealed to the House, when sitting resumed, that government will make funds available to the National Assembly each time its committees want to meet.
Just like on Thursday, yesterday, the lawmakers spent hours deliberating the contentious votes to National Assembly and OPC; with the opposition determined to revise the votes upwards and downwards, respectively, citing the need for oversight and austerity.
Earlier, heated arguments between the opposition and government side forced Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje to expel, Mchinji West MP Kanjira Banda for misconduct.
The Deputy Speaker also ordered another, Rumphi East MP Kamlepo Kalua, to submit evidence by Monday 2pm on allegations that ministers were plotting to divert part of the budget allocation to the OPC for personal gain.
Then the opposition brought a motion to reduce the OPC budget by K1 billion but after government sought a division, the opposition thundered during the voting.
“It’s good that the revised budget has passed. We trust that Malawians will be served better by what has happened especially that we mitigate the dire situation caused by hunger and other causes,” said leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera after adjournment of the House.
Chakwera added: “We will strive to ensure that the oversight function of Parliament happens. One of the things that really were a matter of concern is that oversight function was not really funded. Everyone understands that the circumstances of the time require that we all sacrifice.”
Leader of the House Francis Kasaila reacted to the passing of the budget with relief, saying the government will continue striving for prudent use of the resources allocated. n