CDEDI & Lost History Petition Parliament to Allow Use of Local Languages in Debates
Published on November 13, 2025 at 2:00 PM by Edgar Naitha
Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) Director General Sylvester Namiwa has urged members of parliament to urgently consider a request to allow the use of languages other than English in the House.
Namiwa noted that many citizens struggle to follow parliamentary debates and that some Members of Parliament (MPs) refrain from speaking because of the English language barrier.
The request, sent jointly by CDEDI and the Lost History Foundation, was received by Zomba City North MP Bester Awali on behalf of Parliament. Awali described the request as understandable, noting that other countries already use local languages in parliamentary proceedings, enabling citizens to follow debates more easily.
Awali said he would forward the letter to the Speaker of the House for consideration, after which members of Parliament will discuss the matter at an appropriate time.
