The Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament has criticised the decision to postpone the mid-term budget review meeting, warning that the move could undermine parliamentary oversight of the national budget.
Committee chairperson Sosten Gwengwe said the postponement leaves Parliament without a clear picture of how the budget is being implemented.
Gwengwe explained that the mid-term review is an important process that enables lawmakers to assess the government’s progress in implementing the approved budget.
He said without the review, Parliament would be unable to establish whether the budget is achieving the intended objectives and outputs outlined in the budget document.
“The rest of the budget will therefore be implemented with no proper parliamentary oversight, and there may be irreparable damage at the end of the budget cycle,” Gwengwe said.
The committee’s concerns follow a letter dated October 23, in which President Peter Mutharika directed the Speaker of Parliament to postpone the mid-term budget review meeting.
The decision has raised concerns about Parliament’s ability to monitor government spending and evaluate whether public resources are being utilised in line with the approved budget priorities.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Sameer Suleman has issued a statement formally announcing the postponement of the meeting.
The postponement means Parliament’s assessment of budget implementation will be delayed, with the Budget and Finance Committee warning that the absence of timely oversight could have serious consequences by the end of the budget cycle
