Among others, Chiwaya said the August House will continue to hear comments from members of the house on the President Mutharika`s statement which he made when officially opening the 46th session of parliament last Friday November 5, 2015.
The second deputy speaker then gave the floor to leader of government in the house Francis Katsaira who read and brought forward all the eight bills that were left from the previous 45th session of parliament.
The bills according to Katsaira, include the committee reports on HIV tackling on responses, reports from Human rights commission and other statutory corporations like the Lilongwe Water Board.
The members are also expected to discuss the delegation report on SADC parliamentary program on Namibia elections, Exemplary policy from Kenya and the intra-parliamentary report from Hanoi.
Apart from that, some of the motions that are expected to be resuscitated are on Albinism, the legalizing of industrial hemp, the constitutional fund and the independence of the constitutional fund.
Notably, some of the honorable members who added their voices on the president’s statement were Blantyre City Central Member of Parliament Themba Mkandawire who said his constituents are happy with the response from different agencies and companies that have so far gone towards the call for help towards the looming hunger including the stocking of maize in ADMARC depots.
“I am here by calling on government to make sure that all maize deports have enough maize so that as the head of state has been saying, nobody should die from hunger.” said Mkandawire.
On Cement and Malata subsidy, Mkandawire said in his constituency there is a great improvement on the project as a number of houses have been so far constructed.
He added that his constituents expect to benefit a lot from the community colleges project.
Taking his turn Balaka Central East Representative Aufi Mpaweni hailed the president for coming out in the open acknowledging that the economy is sailing in troubled times.
He however asked government to start distributing materials in the Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) saying the rainy season is around the corner.
Malawi Congress Party`s (MCP) Makala Ngozo, MP for Lilongwe Mapuyu North tipped government not to only consider providing maize seeds to those affected by drought but also cash crops.
He then proposed a one percent fuel levy that would be used to pay doctors that graduates in Malawi`s medicine colleges.
“Nevertheless my people are happy with the cement and Malata subsidy but in my constituency there is only one truck delivering materials which is slowing the progress of the works, why not adding on another delivery vehicle?” queried Ngozo to the nodding of the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi who was then seen jotting down some notes following the suggestion.
While commending government on the strides it has made on education, Nkhotakota Northeast parliamentarian Martha Chanjo Lunji asked government not to raise fees for secondary schools.
On health, one member Agness Nyalonje from Mzimba North observed that the issue of quality health service might just be a song because the current economy cannot support the current population boom.
“Unless we find ways of controlling the current population boom which is estimated at 500, 000 people per year, our health sector will still be struggling.” hinted Nyalonje.
Other opposition members namely Salima North west parliamentarian Jessie Kabwira, Lilongwe Msozi South Dzoole Mwale and Felix Jumbe of Salima central all from the Malawi Congress party and peoples party`s Malani Mtonga from Karonga South moved a motion on the need for government to hasten the process of FISP.
Responding to the calls, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Food Security Dr Allan Chiyembekeza said the materials will be available in two weeks time.
Chiyembekeza who acknowledged the delay in rolling out the 2015-2016 programs said the uncertainties in pricing caused the delay.
“We are now printing the coupons and farmers will start benefiting from the program in less than two weeks.” said the seemingly optimistic minister.
Before adjournment, Katsaira announced that government`s priority on Wednesday 11 November 2015 will be the Lilongwe University of natural resources (LUANAR) bill.
Deliberations resumes today 11 November 2015 from 2pm.
