Teachers strike updates: Opposition MPs to join primary school demonstrations

As teachers strike continues across the country over unpaid leave grants and others grievances, Opposition Members of Parliament have threatened to join the ongoing demonstration staged by primary school learners.

The warning follows a hide and seek game being played by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) govenement under President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.

On Tuesday opposition MPs led by Salima lawmaker Jessie Kabwila asked Minister of Education Dr Emmanuel Fabiano to explain what government is doing on the strike or else resign honorably.

Instead of responding to the issues, Fabiano referred the questions to Minister of Finance and Economic Development Goodall Gondwe.

The development angered opposition MPs who asked for the resignation of Fabiano.

“The Minister of Education is sitting phwii,” said a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Dedza North West MP Alekeni Menyani.

Speaking in an interview with privately owned radio, Dowa East Member of Parliament Richard Chimwendo Banda expressed shock over the move taken by government on teachers strike.

Banda said the opposition MPs has given government three days to resolve the ongoing strike by teachers or else they will boycott the budget meeting.
“It’s not on for us as MPs sitting in Parliament while learners across on the street demanding their rights to education. If the strike by teachers will remain unresolved up until next week we MPs from opposition side will join the students in demonstrating,” said Banda.

Reacting to the claims, Gondwe said the threat by MPs won’t work.

Meanwhile debate continues on the strike by teachers.