By Linda Kwanjana
Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has raised a red flag over growing tensions between Parliament and the Executive, warning that such impulses will not help Malawians and urging both arms of Government to embrace peace, dialogue, and constitutional order amid concerns over a proposed parliamentary inquiry into 13 issues of national importance.
Addressing journalists at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on Tuesday, HRCC said while the matters raised by the Speaker on 2 September 2026 deserve resolution, the procedure and public pronouncements risk deepening division between Parliament and the Executive.
At the center of HRCC’s concerns is a communication dated 24 August 2026 sent by the Speaker to the Smallholder Farmers’ Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) regarding the proposed inquiry, eight days before the public announcement.
HRCC said the timing raises questions about whether a substantive decision to initiate or determine the scope of the inquiry was made before Parliament went public.
The rights body has asked Parliament to clarify the precise purpose and authority for that communication.
The committee also cited allegations that a close family member of the Speaker, Mr. Tahir Suleman, served as Chief Executive Officer of East Bridge Tobacco Limited, a company reportedly connected to the transaction under investigation.
HRCC stressed the allegations are unproven but said they warrant clarification to protect the credibility of the process.
Citing Section 61 of the Constitution, HRCC called for full disclosure of any direct or indirect material interest and, where necessary, recusal from decisions relating to the inquiry.
“Parliamentary investigations must not only be lawful, they must also be seen to be impartial,” HRCC said.
Beyond the tobacco matter, HRCC listed five fundamental questions it wants Parliament to answer: the precise mandate of each joint inquiry, the jurisdictional basis under Rule 154, the composition of the committees, the powers they will exercise under Section 60(3) of the Constitution, and where the official parliamentary record of the process is.
The rights body further noted the need for independent verification of any bank accounts or financial ties before proceedings begin to safeguard transparency.
In a statement titled “Call for Order, Mutual Respect and Constitutional Coexistence Between the Executive and Parliament”, HRCC cautioned against attempts to create division between the two arms of government.
It reminded that under Section 49(1) of the Constitution, Parliament consists of the National Assembly and the President as Head of State, and that parliamentary business depends on a cordial working relationship with the Executive.
“Parliament cannot survive and transact business without the Executive,” HRCC stated.
“If Parliament expects other institutions to comply with the law, Parliament must equally demonstrate strict adherence to its own constitutional framework. This impulse will not help Malawians.”
HRCC said its questions were not an accusation of wrongdoing, but a call for clarity to ensure the investigation is “demonstrably impartial and free from any reasonable perception of predetermination or personal interest.”
The committee concluded by urging Parliament to publish clear terms of reference, timelines, reporting lines, and legal authority before substantive proceedings on the tobacco inquiry commence, and called on both Parliament and the Executive to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.
