Deputy Parliament Clerk Njolomole to certify bills, after Katopola’s snub

Deputy clerk of parliament Henry Njolomole is this week expected to certify parliament bills passed during the just ended sitting and present them to President Joyce Banda on Friday for assenting, authorities say.

This follows a refusal by clerk of parliament Matilda Katopola to sign the documents on grounds that she is on a compulsory leave.

The development created panic amongst the authorities as the implementation of the budget was supposed to start on July 1.

Among the seven bills is the Appropriate Bill-which when assented to by the president-will allow the just passed K408 billion (about $1.6 billion) budget become effective.

First deputy speaker of parliament Jones Chingola told Capital Radio that the documents have already gone for printing and will be presented to President Banda by this coming Friday.

“What I know is that the bills have been sent for printing, they will be here between today(Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday), then they will sent to the president on Friday,” said Chingola.