MPs ignore Speaker’s warning on Security at Parliament when receiving petitions

Members of Parliament on Tuesday morning defied speaker’s warning not to compromise security at the parliament building when receiving petitions from citizens.

On Friday last week Speaker Richard Msowoya cautioned the law makers to avoid receiving any petition in a group and within the premises of the house.

Msowoya’s warning came following demonstration organized by Chiefs on Thursday last week which saw village heads walking to Parliament building to present the petition to leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera, who was accompanied by opposition lawmakers and some independent legislators.

The Speaker said the tendency was in breach of peace.

“I ask members of the House to please abide by the Standing Orders and provisions on the processing of petitions.

“One person is identified to receive the petition on behalf of all members and these people [petitioners] are not, in any way, allowed to come into parliament,” Msowoya warned.

But yesterday the act repeated itself when Malawians led by religious leaders marched across the country against the legalization of same sex marriages and abortion bill with the main event happening in the capital Lilongwe.

Protesters in the capital Lilongwe entered the Parliament premises, compromising security at the building.

And MPs instead of choosing one among them to receive a petition from religious leaders, they all walked out of the National Assembly.

Among the notable faces seen outside parliament includes; Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera who is also leader of opposition in parliament, Opposition People’s Party (PP) interim President Uladi Mussa, United Democratic front (UDF) member of Parliament for Balaka North Lucius Banda, Lilian Patel MP and Dedza MP Juliana Lulungu who received the petition.