Malawi Parliament Suspended Indefinitely

Malawi’s troubled parliament has suspended the debate of its 2008/09 budget proceedings until further notice following the insecurity which surrounded the House early in the day, Speaker of Parliament Louis Chimango said on Friday.

The “insecurity” came from “concerned citizens” who flocked to the main entrance of the New State House which doubles as parliament to force legislatures to pass the budget failing which they would not leave the ornate premises.

The concerned citizens also barred opposition members from entering the gates, a situation which delayed the parliamentarians, including the speaker and officials from National Assembly secretariat, to convene the house as scheduled.

Chimango said the decision to suspend proceedings came after consultations with the members of the Business Committee of Parliament in order to protect members from the angry group.

“Members will be informed of the dates for the resumption of the debates on the budget process when appropriate,” the Speaker said, adding that the suspension was to ensure that members were able to conduct business in a dignified and productive manner.”

However, civil society activists have expressed worry over the decision to suspend budget proceedings, arguing that the country would lose more in the absence of the budget.

“Development sectors, including crucial areas like health, water and agriculture, among others, will be delayed and poor Malawians in rural areas will not benefit,” he said.

Earlier, President Bingu wa Mutharika had warned that he would suspend parliament if legislatures would not discuss and pass the budget by Friday.

Malawi interconnect railway to South-Africa

Malawi is nursing plans to interconnect her railway network to Johannesburg via Mozambique, to enable her agro-based farmers easily access upper import or export markets without having to worry about soaring inland transport fares.

Malawi is also mentioning of rehabilitating rail line to Zambia via central western district of Mchinji.

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika speaking in the commercial city of Blantyre says rail transport enables people to ferry bulky goods as opposed to land and air. He also added that rail is relatively the most affordable of all the modes of transport in the World.

"All the richest countries in the world, developed fast because of rail transport, in United States of America, there is Orange Gross Express which stretches from Los Angeles to New York, it is the through that channel that America is the richest.

"In Europe there is Oriental Express line which stretches from London in United Kingdom to Istanbul in Turkey," he said.

Government says Malawi is going to interconnect the already existing rail line between Johannesburg and Mozambique after rehabilitation work of part of the line is rehabilitated in Maputo.

Mutharika said while inland transport like vehicles are good, they need to be complemented by a cheap and affordable transport like railway.

"Few of our people can afford to use air transport, as a matter of fact air lines only allow 30 kilogramme per person free, exceeding this weight it attracts huge charges," he said.

Deputy Minister of Transport Public Works and Housing Roy Coomsy, said government is rehabilitating local rail network beginning with a line between Maleule in Blantyre to Lilongwe and from Salima to Zambia via Mchinji to ensure that export and import of products is made easy.

"Currently we are expecting consultants from European Union who are arriving any time soon to start up the rehabilitation of al local rail lines and locomotives beginning with the one from Marka in Nsanje to Chiromo," said Coomsy.
On the roads, Coomsy said Construction work on the modern two way Masauko Chipembere Highway would be through by December 2009.

The K1.02 billion which is being implemented through Japanese Government Grant Aid which was signed on July18, 2007 by Malawi's Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe and Japanese envoys is expected to reduce the problem of traffic congestion being experienced in the city especially during peak hours.

"Blantyre would be a changed place once the reconstruction of Chipembere Highway into a dual carriage is completed, the whole Malawi would be a changed country, once this project is through," he said.

He dismissed claims from opposition parties that the project was commenced by former regime of president Bakili Muluzi.

Signing of the project, between Malawi and Japan took place last year and thus it could not be the former government that initiated the project.

Government has sourced 25 million United States dollars (approximately K3.5 billion) for rehabilitation of the country's railway line, deputy Minister of Public works and Transport Roy Coomsy disclosed on Wednesday.