Ministerial responses draw Kaliati’s anger

Mulanje West parliamentarian Patricia Kaliati on Tuesday rebuked Malawi Government for breaching procedures in addressing concerns from various Members of Parliament (MPs).

Kaliati was irked when Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud kept referring MPs to their respective district health officers in response to some questions during Tuesday’s question time.

Daud received several supplementary questions after Lilongwe South legislator Patson Mthyoka asked government to reopen Dzalanyama Health Centre which was closed some years back.

She gave MPs who followed with supplementary questions the same response, forcing Kaliati to rise on a point of order.

“There is no way the honourable minister can keep on telling fellow members off when they are here to present issues affecting their respective constituents. The structure and principles upon which this House stands in a democracy is that MPs should get answers from a minister during question time. It is, therefore, not on for the minister to send the honourable members to present their queries to DHOs.”