…told CDF was scrapped due to poor accountability
Government Chief Whip Jacob Hara has praised the Uganda Parliament for enacting the anti-homosexuality law, saying it paves way for African countries to do the same, a report from Uganda has said.
According to a report published on Tuesday Speakers and legislators from the Malawi National Assembly commended Parliament of Uganda for passing the Anti-Homosexuality law.
In a related development the Malawian MPs were told by the Ugandan Speaker of Parliament that the country abolished a 10 million shilling Constituency Developement Fund (CDF) due to poor accountability. Malawi MPs recieve K100 million each.
The visiting legislators made the commendation in a meeting with the Speaker, Anita Among on Tuesday, 11 July 2023.
The delegation from Malawi is being led by the First Deputy Speaker, Madalitso Kazombo.
The Government Chief Whip from the Malawi National Assembly, Hon. Jacob Hara said it is time for Africa to stand up for sovereignty in its values.
“At times, we lose our focus because of the carrots that are dangled elsewhere which makes us lose our dignity. I commend your Parliament for paving the way for this decision in Africa,” Hara is reported to have said.
Among informed the delegation that the Anti-Homosexuality law was initially passed by the 10th Parliament but was quashed by the Constitutional Court at the time due to lack of quorum.
“In the 11th Parliament, a private member picked it up and made changes to address issues of promoting homosexuality in schools. He made amendments to the existing Act and it was passed with the needed quorum,” said Among.
In Malawi, influential Catholic Bishops are expected on Thursday to lead demonstrations to demonstrate against same sex marriages.
In another development, the Second Deputy Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly, Aisha Mambo Adams, sought to know how Parliament of Uganda handles the absenteeism of MPs in House business.
“I would like to know how the Business Committee handles the issue of absenteeism, more especially in the case that a Member of Parliament has not sought leave of absence from the Speaker,” Mambo asked.
Among said the presiding officers write to absentee Members of Parliament to explain their reasons for not participating in committee or plenary business of Parliament.
“In the last session, we did not take any action but we kept cautioning and urging MPs to be present in the House. After we write to them asking for an explanation for their failure to participate, then we take action,” said Among.
The Speaker also responded to a query by the Leader of Government Business in the Malawi National Assembly, Hon. Richard Kimwendo Banda on the constituency development fund.
“We had a Constituency Development Fund where MPs were given shs10 million to help their communities but it was scrapped due to poor accountability. Parliament approved the Parish Development Model, a government programme which MPs are supposed to monitor,” Among added.
The meeting also focused on the workings of the Business Committee of Parliament.
Among briefed the delegation on the membership of the Business Committee, the work it does, and its timetables for House business, including the budget process which is a statutory obligation.
