Parliament of Malawi

Clerk of Parliament’s Welcome Message

Mr Roosevelt L. Gondwe, Clerk of Parliament

I would like to welcome you all to the Parliament of Malawi.

The Parliament of Malawi consists of the President of the Republic of Malawi and 193 elected Members of Parliament. The term of office of a Member of Parliament is five years. The Right Honourable Speaker is the Head of the Parliament of Malawi and is assisted by two Deputies. The Parliamentary Service Act of 1998 created the Parliamentary Service Commission as the governing body of the Parliamentary Service. The Parliamentary Service Commission, chaired by the Right Honourable Speaker is responsible for managing the affairs of the Parliamentary Service. The Clerk of Parliament is responsible for the daily activities of the Parliament of Malawi. The Parliamentary Service has two departments, namely Parliamentary Service, which is responsible for chamber and Committee Systems and the Corporate Services, which is responsible for the Administrative Systems.

The Parliamentary Service activities are guided by the Strategic Plan which has a lifespan of five years. The current Strategic Plan runs from 2010 – 2015 and expires on 30^th June, 2015. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Service is in the process of developing the successor plan which will run from 2015 to 2020.

Parliament buildings

All legislative powers of the Republic are vested in Parliament. Parliament consists of the President as head of state and the National Assembly of 193 elected members, including the Speaker as the political head and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission. The Speaker is assisted by two Deputy Speakers. Members are directly elected using the first-past-the-post system. The term of office of a member is five years.

The Rt. Hon. Richard Msowoya, MP Speaker of the National Assembly

Functions

Parliament is responsible for:

• Making laws for the country
• Passing the national budget each year as presented by cabinet
• Scrutinising the Executive in policy implementation through a Committee system and oral questions answered during a designated question time in plenary
• Confirmation of presidential nominees for public office

Strategic objectives

Parliament’s strategic objectives for the period 2009-2015

• Increase the institutional capacity of Parliament to provide assistance to MPs in their duties and tasks
• Improve the legislative process in Parliament
• Improve the capacity of Parliament to provide effective oversight of the government
• Strengthen the leadership and representative roles of MPs
• Increase the outreach work of Parliament to bring Parliament to the People

Administration

Parliament administration is headed by the Clerk of Parliament assisted by two Deputy Clerks. The Office of Clerk of Parliament consists of two departments:

• Corporate services, including:
  • Finance
  • Administration
  • Policy and Planning
  • Human Resources
  • ICT
• Parliamentary services, including:
  • Legal Counsel
  • Table Office
  • Hansard
  • Printing Services
  • Library, Research and Civic Education
  • Committee system
  • Sergeant-at-Arms

International linkages

The Parliament of Malawi is affiliated with five inter-parliamentary bodies, namely SADC Parliamentary Forum, Pan-African Parliament, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the African Caribbean Pacific – European Community.

Parliament of Malawi

Presidential Way

Private Bag B362

Capital City

Lilongwe 3

Tel: +265 1 77 3566/77 3208

Fax: +265 1 77 4196

E-mail: parliament@malawi.net

www.parliament.gov.mw