By Esther Sandali
As new parliamentarians prepare to elect the speaker of the National Assembly on October 29th, a political activist have emphasised the need for Members of Parliament (MPs) to consider the interests of citizens when conducting the exercise.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, Wonderful Mkhutche said the Parliament needs a speaker who can manage the position diligently, prioritising the nation’s interest.
“We need a speaker who will lead the house while focusing on the needs of Malawians represented by respective Members of Parliament. A speaker who will be creating an environment in the parliament where all views are given equal treatment will ably inform national progress,” said Mkhutche.
He further urged MPs to choose a person who can protect the rules of the house, noting some unwelcome behaviour by legislatures leads to ineffectiveness of parliament sessions.
“MPs should nominate a speaker whom they will be able to listen to. They should consider the person’s ability to caution some unwelcome behaviours, including absenteeism by MPs, because this shows that they are denying representing their people,” he added.
A recent press statement released on Tuesday by Concerned Citizens of Malawi–People Power Movement (CCM-PPM) stressed the need for a speaker who understands parliamentary procedure deeply and respects Malawians’ voices regardless of political affiliation.
“The speaker must be a unifier, capable of maintaining order and fostering collaboration among members while protecting the independence of parliament as an equal arm of government,” reads the statement.
The communiqué also made an appeal to the MPs to elect a speaker whose conduct, competence and character will restore public confidence in parliament and advance the aspirations of Malawians.
Currently, names of contenders for the position of speaker for the national assembly trending include Sameer Suleman from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and President of People’s Development Party (PDP), Kondwani Nankhumwa.
