MALAWI: Lawmakers and Activists Divided Over Parliament Speaker Election Process

By Smile Hamilton, Malawi 

Stakeholders are calling for a review of the laws governing the election of the Speaker of Parliament. According to Section 56(1) of the Constitution, the Speaker is elected by lawmakers, either from among themselves or from outside the House.

MP Sameer Suleiman, representing Blantyre South East, believes the Speaker should not be a lawmaker. Speaking to Africa Culture TV, Suleiman expressed concerns that the current system promotes favoritism in the House’s proceedings. He advocates for the Speaker to be elected from a list of external candidates, arguing this would bring impartiality.

However, democracy advocate Aloisious Nthenda holds a different view. Nthenda urges MPs to elect a Speaker from among themselves, emphasizing the importance of choosing a candidate who is impartial. The debate highlights differing opinions on the best approach to selecting the Speaker, with some pushing for reform to ensure fairness and others advocating for internal leadership.