The Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Sameer Suleman, MP, has urged Members of Parliament to take their oversight responsibilities seriously, describing the role as a vital link between government efforts to address economic challenges and the well-being of ordinary Malawians. He emphasized that through thorough scrutiny of national budget implementation and public expenditure, Parliament plays a central role in safeguarding citizens’ interests.
The Parliament of Malawi, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Malawi, has strengthened preparations to enhance MPs’ effectiveness in executing their oversight mandate. This follows a two-day induction programme on Economic Governance and the Role of Parliament held under the theme, “Understanding the Economic Landscape for Oversight.”
Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the workshop, Right Honourable Suleman reminded Members of Parliament of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s address in October 2025, in which he underscored that Malawi’s economic recovery depends in part on vigilant and informed parliamentary oversight.
Suleman noted that the well-being of ordinary citizens—the woman farmer in Mchinji, the fisherman in Mangochi, the teacher in Chitipa, and the small business owner in Blantyre—relies on Parliament’s commitment to monitoring government expenditure and ensuring accountability.
“When we, as Parliament, exercise diligent oversight, we do more than just check boxes. We build development partners’ confidence. We attract responsible development partners. We empower our citizens with the knowledge that their resources are in safe hands,” he said.
In his remarks, UNDP Resident Representative Chika Charles-Aniekwe highlighted that while economic governance lies at the heart of Parliament’s constitutional mandate, effective oversight of government expenditure, taxation policies, and public borrowing requires strong capacity in fiscal data interpretation and public finance management.
He stressed the importance of linking policy decisions to the lived realities of Malawians.
During the two-day workshop, Members of Parliament are expected to engage with experts on the current state of the economy and public finances, public finance management systems, Parliament’s oversight role in the national budget, domestic revenue mobilization, and citizens’ perspectives on Malawi’s economic challenges.
