MPs to grill Chakwera on Jerusalem embassy, duty-free week, passport fee reductions
Parliament has confirmed that President Lazarus Chakwera has already been given nine questions which legislators will ask him this Wednesday afternoon when he appears before National Assembly to answer questions as provided for in the Constitution.
Nine questions have been submitted to Chakwera through the Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara according to Parliament spokesperson Ian Mwenye.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator for Zomba Chisi, Mark Botomani will ask President Chakwera on his administration’s foreign policy in relation to his decision to establish a Malawi diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, Israel.
Chisi’s question come against a background of an unresolved conflict between Israel and Palestine over east Jerusalem. Due to the conflict, many countries in diplomatic relations with Israel have not recognised Jerusalem as the capital and instead establish their missions in Tel Aviv.
In his maiden State of the Nation Address (Sona) delivered in Parliament on September 4, Chakwera announced that Malawi will establish its mission in Jerusalem, a decision some local governance commentators have described as insensitive and a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution.
If Chakwera fulfils his promise, Malawi would be the first African country to establish a diplomatic office in Jerusalem.
The matter also came up on September 10 when Chakwera for the first time was responding to questions in Parliament as the President acknowledged the debate on his decision to reopen the mission offices in Jerusalem, saying Malawi was a sovereign State and that “relationships will be established with any country provided it is for the benefit of Malawian people”.
In November last year, Chakwera—a former Malawi Assemblies of God president who quit the pulpit in 2012 to join frontline politics by vying for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidency—visited Israel to pray for Malawi, according to his post on Twitter.
Another question will come from Nkhotakota North East MP Martha Lunji of DPP who will quiz Chakwera on why his administration on assembling ‘Madala Team’ by recalling from retirement former public servants – contrary to Tonse government’s transformation philosophy to employ more youth.
Lunji will also grill Chakwera on when will he implement the proposed duty-free week and reduction of passport application processing fees to K14 000 as pledged during the election campaign.
Other questions will come from MP Zomba Lisanjala Dr William Susuwele Banda on what the President is doing to avoid electoral related violence in 2025 which he said is already marring current by-elections.
The questions will be followed by supplementary questions.
Chakwera became the sixth President of Malawi following his triumph in the court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election held on June 23. He was propelled to power through a nine-party Tonse Alliance with Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima as vice-president.
This will be a second appearance for Chakwera in Parliament for Question Time since the country’s second president, Bakili Muluzi, did the same in the early days of his administration.
Muluzi’s successor, Bingu wa Mutharika (deceased) vehemently refused to appear before Parliament to fulfil the constitutional requirement.
President Joyce Banda, who was Bingu’s estranged vice-president but ascended to the presidency in line with constitutional order in April 2012 following Bingu’s death, never attempted to appear before Parliament as did her successor Peter Mutharika who ruled the country from 2014.
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They failed to grill him. Chakwera is not their match anazolowera Mutharika…kikikikikiki
Ngakhale South Africa
Ilinawo mgulu lamaiko ochuluka padzikolonse,osachita ukazembe ndi lsrael.
Pagonazifukwa zikuluzikulu.
Kumalawi anthu ambili ndi ogona
Mwina chifukwa cha olemba nkhani athuwa alindimalile kwambili.
Komabe pawekha utha kumalitsata dziko lapansi posamayedzamila nkhani za BBC zokha.
Ndi KUPUSA kothelatu kuthamangila zomwe ambili akuzisala.
Afunse South Africa kuti Ndichifukwa chani ilibe kazembe ku Israel.
Ku South Africa amalemba motakasula nkhani zokhudzana Israel
Koma kumalawi sindinawelengepo.
Believe all these promises should be put on hold until the World economy including Malawi is back on track once Covid is dealt with by a vaccine. Tourism, Exports are stalled costing Malawi Billions. With a 4.2 Trillion debt inherited plus the projected 754 Billon Deficit from the recent budget. Unnecessary expenses such as anew Embassy in Israel is not appropriate.
Nkhani yatsegula an embassy in Jerusalem bwana zisiyeni. There is a reason as to why The whole of Africa and most of the rest of the world have not done such. Some of these decisions should be left to the big boys in the world. Achina uncle Sam.
Kkkk baba president ngati muli oima panonkha Sono un mumajoina bwanji
Za ma passport, electricity connection, duty free week ndi zopusa zina ndi za Chilima and his utm. Si za MCP.
It’s an alliance for crying out loud. It’s not MCP
The establishment of the embassy in Jerusalem already attracts the wrath of the jihadists who feel that they have a right to hit any nation that’s excessively pro-Jewish. In this case Malawi has placed herself in the front line target the arrows from the pro-Palestine guerrillas. Malawi hasn’t a bullet proof border to take the Palestinian heat so we must not be stocking the Palestinian wrath. While Kamuzu danced with the Jews his times were a different period from today never will Israel give any military cover today as her borders are porous the Palestinians prick the Jewish state with… Read more »
Ndizimene tikunenazo kuti Malawi is not Libya and or any other country, this is Malawi and we have the right to choose whom we want to make relationship with. I think this comment is here for the second time, inu mukoopa ndeu chifukwa choti we are different from other African Countries? What will be the reason of them to fight with us? just because we have decided to have our Embassy in Jerusalem? siyani kusuta kanundu uyu!!
Embassy in Israel is about 2 things – Chakwera’s Christen faith he has visited Jerusalem and the wish to delevelop more trade and Donor Assistance from Israel. It is a tremendous expense for such a poor Country when the world economy is falling because of Covid. Should be noted Israel does not have a Embassy in Malawi.