The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has condemned the conduct of “a disturbingly significant number” of members of Parliament (MPs) who are increasingly absconding from sittings without valid reasons.
MLS said in a statement yesterday that it is surprising that at a time strong political leadership is called to meet the huge challenges being faced, elected representatives choose to stay away from transacting important business on behalf of Malawians.
In the statement co-signed by MLS president John Suzi-Banda and honorary secretary Khumbo Bonzoe Soko, the society said the conduct of the MPs is not only irresponsible, but also a blatant betrayal of the trust citizens of the country have put in them both in their individual capacities as well as in their collective capacity.
Suzi-Banda
MLS has since asked the National Assembly leadership—notably the Speaker, the Leader of the House, the Leader of Opposition and leaders of parties represented in Parliament—to rise up to duty and take stern action against the MPs who are abdicating their constitutional duty.
On Monday, Parliament vowed to recover allowances of legislators who abscond from sittings without valid reasons.
Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya communicated that chairpersons of parliamentary committees and the Business Committee—which form the leadership of political parties on both sides of the House—made the resolution.
MPs get K40 000 per day as subsistence allowance and K10 000 sitting allowance, which is paid out before the meeting starts.
