By Patience Longwe
Speaker of the National Assembly, Sameer Suleman, has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to enhance their economic oversight role, describing it as a constitutional duty to hold the executive accountable.
He made the remarks on Wednesday at Bingu International Convention Centre during an induction workshop on economic governance for MPs.
“The people of Malawi have entrusted us with their voice, and with that voice comes an unwavering duty to ensure that every tambala of public revenue is collected, allocated, and spent efficiently and for the purpose of improving their lives,” Suleman said.
He added that State
President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has emphasised fiscal discipline, prudent use of public resources, and investments that create jobs and boost productivity.Suleman stressed that MPs should take their oversight role seriously, saying they are not a “rubber stamp” but the “engine of scrutiny.”
Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Chika Charles Aniekwe, encouraged MPs to exercise effective economic oversight, highlighting its importance for national development.
“Effective economic governance depends on Parliament, the executive, independent oversight bodies, and civil society working together,” Aniekwe said.
He further explained that Parliament’s power to approve budgets, oversee expenditure, and scrutinise taxation and borrowing decisions is among the most consequential responsibilities of the house.
Aniekwe warned that weak oversight can lead to inefficiencies, unchecked borrowing, and poorly designed incentives that directly affect citizens, particularly when fiscal space is limited.
He urged MPs to engage with citizens, noting that they serve as the bridge between macroeconomic frameworks and people’s everyday realities.
The workshop, themed “Understanding the economic landscape for oversight,” aims to equip MPs with knowledge to interrogate policies, demand accountability, and ensure public funds translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
