Parliament has sine die with after eight weeks of deliberations with a call to the MPs to be patriotic as people look up to them.
In his remarks when adjourning the house today, Leader of the house Jappie Mhango said the House passed the Budget, enacted six Bills, demanded Ministerial Statements and posed critical Questions.
Mhango, has hailed Minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha for successfully steering the budget through Parliament.
He has also commended Parliament for successfully scrutinizing and passing the 2026 National Budget, describing the process as thorough and critical to national development.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Simplex Chithyola Banda, has expressed concern over the challenges Malawians are facing, citing rising fuel prices, punitive taxes, and the high cost of living as factors contributing to widespread hardship across the country.
Speaking at Parliament building in Lilongwe on Friday, Chithyola Banda said Malawians remain burdened by multiple fees and taxes on routine financial transactions and increased fuel prices.
Chithyola Banda also raised alarm over security challenges, including incidents of violence and kidnappings, urging responsible authorities to strengthen safety measures and restore public confidence in the country’s security systems.
On education, Chithyola Banda urged the government to address the shortage of university accommodation by engaging private investors through public-private partnerships to construct hostels across all campuses. He said this would help ensure affordable housing for students nationwide.He also called on the Ministry of Agriculture to urgently release farm-gate prices to protect farmers from exploitation by vendors.
He has since appealed to the government to reconsider its stance on the automatic fuel pricing mechanism, arguing that it is placing a heavy burden on citizens.
Chithyola Banda however acknowledged that President Peter Mutharika has demonstrated a commitment to national development, notably through the allocation of K5 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF) per constituency. However, he noted that progress is being hindered by delays in developing clear guidelines for the funds, warning that Parliament risks operating without proper direction.
Banda also hailed government’s decision to introduce an Executive Order banning the export of unprocessed minerals saying it will promote local processing and add value to Malawi’s resources.
In his remarks speaker of parliament Sameer Suleman has hailed the members for their pro-activeness during the seating.
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