Malawi’s 2019/2020 Budget In September

The 2019/2020 Budget Session is scheduled to take place in September this year not the usual June to July owing to the need to put in place new structures for the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs).

Senior Assistant Clerk of Parliament, Joseph Manzi disclosed this during the on-going orientation of newly elected Members of Parliament.

Manzi said it was important that Parliament through the yet to be set Business Committee of the House, first put in place committees that are mandated to scrutinize and provide guidance for the deliberations on the budget.

“The Business Committee will discuss and agree on specific dates that the House will meet to discuss the budget,” Manzi said

He added that in order not to stifle government operations, Minister of Finance would bring before the house, a resolution seeking to authorize government to spend money for three months as the actual budget is being discussed.

The new cohort of Parliamentarians has impressed Manzi who said “so far, the punctuality, attendance and participation has been impressive who hoped they would continue doing so.”

The first meeting of the 48th session of Parliament is expected to be inaugurated by President Mutharika on Friday, June 21, 2019 with the full sitting of Parliament scheduled to start on June 24, 2019.

The MPs have been meeting in Lilongwe from Monday getting themselves acquainted with procedures and workings of Parliament.

Swearing-In of the MPs will take place on Monday and Tuesday followed by the election of the Speaker and deputies on Wednesday.

On Monday, 63 MPs will be sworn in and Tuesday, the remaining 64 will be sworn in with only Blantyre City East Parliamentarian to be sworn in at a later date.