By Wendy Mkandawire
Parliament yesterday Thursday,continued with the Third Meeting of the 52nd Session amid calls from some Members of Parliament for an urgent debate on the management and implementation of the Constituency Development Fund, CDF.
Proceedings were briefly disrupted after some lawmakers sought to suspend the Order Paper to allow the House to discuss concerns over delays and challenges in implementing CDF projects.
However, Second Deputy Speaker Victor Musowa ruled that the House would proceed with scheduled business. He assured members that his office would engage the Minister of Local Government on the matter.
Following the procedural debate, Parliament moved to Questions to Ministers, starting with Minister of Education, Bright Msaka.
Members sought answers on the stalled construction of Kalanga Community Day Secondary School, which is being developed under the Secondary Education Expansion Programme with support from development partners.
In response, Msaka told the House that construction materials remain available at project sites and in ministry warehouses. He said district councils have been encouraged to include the completion of unfinished schools in their development plans.
The minister added that government is engaging cooperating partners to mobilize resources to complete the affected schools.
Speaking to the media after the sitting, Msaka reaffirmed government’s commitment to completing all unfinished secondary schools despite the withdrawal of funding by the United States government.
“The schools belong to the Government of Malawi and will be completed using government resources because they are essential to the communities they are meant to serve,” he said.
On the recent increase in public university tuition fees, Msaka said the adjustment is necessary to ensure universities continue providing quality education.
He explained that it costs government an average of K8 million to educate one university student, while students contribute K1.3 million toward that cost.
The minister also assured the public that no deserving student will fail to access higher education due to financial constraints.
He said government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, has adequately funded the Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board to ensure all eligible students can access loans to cover the revised fees.
The House is expected to continue with questions to various ministers as the Third Meeting of the 52nd Session progresses. Lawmakers will also deliberate on several bills and matters of national importance.
