Government is moving to clip Speaker Sameer Suleman’s wings, challenging his authority to establish ad hoc committees at a time when more groups are backing Parliament’s aggressive oversight drive.
The Malawi Government has challenged the Speaker of Parliament’s power to unilaterally establish ad hoc committees to investigate public institutions.
Chief Secretary to Government Justin Adack K. Saidi said the Constitution vests the power to establish Parliamentary committees in Parliament.
Saidi was responding to concerns over the Speaker’s purported establishment of joint ad hoc committees to investigate several public institutions.
He said while Government recognises the oversight role of Parliament, the Speaker alone cannot constitute such committees.
According to Saidi, Section 56(6) of the Constitution provides that the power to establish Parliamentary committees is vested in Parliament.
He further cited Section 49(1), which states that Parliament consists of the National Assembly and the President as Head of State.
“Therefore, the Speaker alone or the National Assembly cannot unilaterally constitute ad hoc Parliamentary Committee,” Saidi said.
The statement comes amid growing controversy over Parliament’s move to investigate several public institutions, with the legality of the process now facing a constitutional challenge.
Meanwhile, more civil society groups and individuals are backing Parliament’s intensified oversight of public institutions, arguing that the investigations could strengthen accountability and improve the delivery of public services.
