By Twimepoki Mangani
Lilongwe July 25 Mana: Leader of the House in the National Assembly, Richard Chimwendo Banda has guaranteed that the second meeting of the National Assembly would be productive and ensure Malawi was served better.
He made the remarks Monday on the side lines of the 50th session of Parliament in Lilongwe.
Banda who is also Minister of Local Government said the meetings would seek to accomplish their traditional objective in ably discussing bills and ministerial statements with assurance that such engagements aid in answering a hand full of questions the public have.
“We have nine bills which are ready, then through ministerial statements, Ministers will share what they are doing in their ministries just as demonstrated by Minister of Lands, who spoke of availability of land for local and international investors and efforts to improve provision of title deeds.”
“We shall focus on over 40 oversight reports from nearly all Parliamentary Committees, and for the first time Ministers will respond to reports because the standing overs are clear that after 14 days Ministers should respond to reports that are fully debated and adopted in the house,” he added.
Speaker of National Assembly, Catherine Gotani Hara announced the status of the bills that were passed during the last Parliamentary meeting held from February to April, 2023 as she paved the way forward.
“I wish to inform the house that President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera has assented to bills which were passed by this house and the bills were published in the gazetteeffectively making them laws of this country,”
“In the first week the house will consider all outstanding issues such as ministerial statements, questions to ministers for oral reply, bills, statutory reports and private members business,” she said.
14 bills in total were assented including; bill number 1 of 2023, Malawi University of Science and Technology amendment and bill number 2 of 2023, International development association, water and sanitation.
Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba presented a statement on Access to Land for Urban Development and progress on implementation of the Land reforms programme.
Members of Parliament gave observations afterwards, including MP for Chitipa South, Welani Chilenga who inquired what the ministry was doing on matters on encroachment such as at Jacaranda forest reserve.
In his response, Gumba didn’t say much stating that the matter was in court with belief that the Attorney General was ably representing government.
The Second meeting of the National Assembly in the 50thsessions of Parliament is expected to conclude on August 18, 2023.
