By Dean Chisambo

Leader of the house in parliament Richard Chimwendo Banda has expressed his satisfaction with the first week parliamentary mid – year budget review meeting.

Speaking to journalists after the adjournment of the first week of the parliamentary session on  Friday ,Banda said it has been a good week after a long break where they discussed one ministerial statement and other critical matters.

He said : ” Am happy with the attendance of the members, they have been coming in large numbers, this is something that we have been looking for sometime.”

Banda disclosed that pertinent issues have really come in the house and they had times when people could not understand standing orders saying they were going out and coming in, hence by the end of the day they have been able to serve Malawians in a manner.

Commenting on the issue of absenteeism of 84 members on Monday, Banda said normally members  come on Monday from their respective constituencies saying they don’t come on Sunday.

He further said most of the members  travelled on Monday from different places saying just because they were voting Monday ,that is  why the numbers were depicted.

He lamented that from Tuesday up to Friday it has been a full house where more 150 members were attending the session.


Democratic Progressive Party (DDP) members boycotted the session after they disagreed with the deputy speaker of Parliament Madalitso Kazombo on the standing order issues.


The house is expected to meet on Monday afternoon to proceed with their session.