Speaker Gotani Hara denies blocking Namalomba from discharging duties as PAC chair

Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara has denied blocking the Public Accounts Committee from investigating various matters of national concern, including the alleged missing of K30 billion meant for the Affordable Input Programme.

Hara said this during a media briefing held at Parliament building aimed at responding to accusations made by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Member of Parliament for Mangochi who accused the Speaker of being behind PAC leadership crisis.

The Speaker said Parliament recognises Shadric Namalomba as chairperson of the committee after the court reinstated him as chairperson of PAC.

She said this is why her office still delegates Namalomba to international meetings to represent PAC.

Also speaking at press briefing was Joyce Chitsulo who is chairperson of all chairpersons of parliamentary committees.

“Its not true that parliamentary secretariat barred PAC from meeting. It is the Committee of Chairpersons that am holding that made the decision of which Namalomba is part of that determined that PAC meetings must be suspended until final court determination on the matter and we all agreed,” said Chitsulo who is also chairperson for Public Appointments Committee (PAC).

Namalomba is scheduled to travel to Liberia to respect PAC as Chairman.