Lilongwe City Centre member of Parliament (MP) David Bisnowaty (Independent) yesterday demanded an explanation from Speaker Richard Msowoya on why Parliament Secretariat went ahead to fund a trip of committee chairpersons to Salima.
Rising on a point of order on May 26 2016, Bisnowaty objected to plans by the National Assembly to organise the trip, arguing it was needless expenditure at the time the country facing harsh economic times.
He advised government to exercise prudence in its spending to avoid sending mixed signals to the taxpayer.
Yesterday, Bisnowaty said he was disappointed to learn that the trip still took place.
He also said the House was in breach of public trust for “misinforming the nation that the trip was financed by GIZ”.
Said the legislator: “I have personally talked to GIZ officials who have dismissed those claims; meaning that Parliament financed the trip. This is unfair to the poor taxpayer who is feeling the pinch for the economic problems the country is going through.”
Msowoya said he will provide the explanation if the MP put his request in writing to the Speaker’s office. n