Government has issued a clarification on the process of establishing ad hoc joint Parliamentary Committees following public concerns over the Speaker of the National Assembly’s purported unilateral move to set up committees to investigate several public institutions.
In a press statement released today from Capital Hill, Chief Secretary to the Government, Dr. Justin Adack K. Saidi, said authorities have taken note of the concerns raised by members of the public regarding the matter.
Dr. Saidi acknowledged the important oversight role of the National Assembly in holding public institutions accountable. He however stressed that such functions must be exercised within the confines of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.
Citing section 56(6) of the Constitution, the Chief Secretary said the power to establish Parliamentary Committees is vested in Parliament as an institution, and not in the Speaker alone or in the National Assembly acting separately.
He further referred to section 49(1) of the Constitution, which defines Parliament as consisting of both the National Assembly and the President as Head of State. According to the statement, this composition means that neither the Speaker nor the National Assembly can unilaterally constitute an ad hoc Parliamentary Committee.
The clarification comes amid debate on whether the Speaker had overstepped constitutional boundaries by initiating the formation of joint committees without broader parliamentary and executive involvement. The committees were expected to probe issues affecting various public institutions.
Government said it fully appreciates the need for oversight but emphasized that adherence to constitutional procedures is critical to maintaining institutional integrity and public trust in the legislative process.
Dr. Saidi reaffirmed Government’s commitment to upholding the constitutional principles of separation of powers, rule of law, and good governance. He said any parliamentary processes must reflect those principles to ensure transparency and accountability.
