Speaker of Parliament Sumeer Suleman has called for the gains made through the Phungu Wanga (My MP) Project to be sustained, saying the initiative should serve as a bridge to a stronger and lasting relationship between Parliament and citizens.
Suleman made the remarks at the National Parliamentary Indaba, which marked the culmination of the Phungu Wanga Project—an engagement initiative aimed at bringing Parliament closer to communities and strengthening interaction between Members of Parliament (MPs) and their constituents.
Through the project, Parliament and its partners conducted outreach activities in the impact districts of Rumphi, Mchinji and Balaka, creating platforms for citizens to learn about Parliament’s roles and functions, engage directly with their MPs, and raise concerns affecting their daily lives.
According to Suleman, the initiative has contributed to Parliament’s Strategic Plan goal of making the institution more accessible to citizens.
“Citizens should not only hear about Parliament when Parliament is sitting.
They should understand what Parliament does, how it works and how they can participate,” he said.
He said effective representation goes beyond MPs being physically present in Parliament, stressing that elected representatives have a responsibility to carry the voices, concerns and aspirations of their constituents into national decision-making.
As the Phungu Wanga Project comes to an end, Suleman cautioned against viewing the National Parliamentary Indaba as the conclusion of Parliament’s engagement with communities.
“This Indaba is not an end in itself. It is the climax of the engagement journey and hopefully the beginning of a stronger and more sustained relationship between Parliament and the people,” he said.
The Speaker challenged MPs to translate the concerns raised by communities into concrete action, saying citizens expect Parliament to remain relevant, independent, responsive and responsible.
He identified Private Members’ Bills as one avenue through which MPs can turn issues raised by constituents into legislative proposals. However, he stressed that such initiatives must be supported by sound research, broad consultation and appropriate legal expertise.
Suleman also underscored Parliament’s oversight role, noting that its responsibility extends beyond passing legislation. He said parliamentary committees must effectively scrutinize government programmes, public expenditure and institutional performance to ensure that public resources are used efficiently, transparently and for the benefit of Malawians.
Looking ahead, Suleman called for a Parliament that is independent, accessible, inclusive and accountable.
He further encouraged Parliament to harness technology to make parliamentary information more accessible, particularly to young people. However, he cautioned that digital platforms should complement rather than replace direct engagement between MPs and their constituents.
The Speaker said sustaining the dialogue established through the Phungu Wanga Project would be critical to ensuring that citizens remain connected to Parliament and that their concerns continue to inform national decision-making.
