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SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT ENGAGES THE CSOs
The Speaker of Parliament engaged the CSOs on Wednesday, 18th March 2026 at Sunbird Capital hotel in Lilongwe. The Engagement, which was the first of its kind amidst the development of the Public Engagement Strategy by the parliament focused on the theme “Together in taking the parliament to the People”
The meeting dwelt on reminding the CSOs on the roles of parliament which are; representation, legislation and oversight. However, the parliamentarians also pointed out the challenges that affect effective collaboration between them and the CSOs. They sighted the following challenges;
1.Limited amount of time to meet
2.Limited resources
3.Political perceptions
4.Lack of focal coordinator
5.Lack of communication on the side of the CSOs before engaging the public via the Press.
While sighting these challenges, the parliament also offered measures that could help improve or strengthen the collaboration which included;
1.Designation of a coordination desk where the two can use to start their conversations
2.Signing of MOUs to work together in the interest of the general public
3.Capacity building - equip the CSOs with knowledge about parliament
4.Information sharing.
The CSOs, especially the the National Debt Management Coalition expressed worry over the rate at which the Government is borrowing both domestically and internationally. They sighted that for example, in the current budget, the debt stands at 23.9 trillion Kwacha, 16trillion of which is domestic debt representing 65%. 2.9 trillion of the current budget will be used to service the debt. This , they said is what is dwindling the economy of this country not to mention corruption and abuse of funds .
While sighting these, the CSOs offered recomendations;
1.There should be a user-friendly real-time dashboard created and accessed by the public about debt management in the country
2.A standard guide in public debt should be developed for Members of Parliament
3.Debt Management Bill should be tabled urgently
4.Debt Management Strategy should be revised
5.Independent debt Management Commission be established
6.Debt Management Committee be enacted
The CSOs offered to support the Government on debt management.
Council for NGOs in Malawi, CONGOMA’s Executive Director , Mr Ronald Mtonga pointed out that CSOs play an important role of advisory and complementary to Government including Parliament, a voice of the silent disempowered majority, raising forex exchange and creating jobs and oversight or watch dog.
Created At : 20 March 2026
