Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has called for a debate on the use of local languages in Parliament, saying some Members of Parliament (MPs) struggle to speak English in the House.
CDEDI executive Director Sylvester Namiwa made the call in a statement read at a press briefing in Lilongwe today.
According to Namiwa, use of local languages will lead to meaningful deliberations in the House.
“We have noted with concern on how some MPs are struggling to express themselves in English, and yet the same people were trusted by their constituents to represent them in the national assembly,” he said.
He added that this will also allow constituents to easily follow what is being discussed in Parliament.
Section 51 of the Constitution of Malawi says one of the qualifications for becoming a Member of Parliament is that a person should be “able to speak and to read the English language well enough to take an active part in the proceedings of Parliament.”
During the press conference, Namiwa also called for the need to start discussing whether it is necessary to put age limit for individuals that are aspiring for the country’s presidency or not.
“It is hypocritical, we believe, that one should be deemed to be exhausted to continue working in the civil service at the age of 60, and yet the same person is deemed fit and free to serve in the high office of the presidency at the age of 60 or beyond,” he said.
CDEDI is a non-partisan, nongovernmental organization that was established in a quest to attain a well-informed and organized citizenry that can ably demand their social and economic rights at the same time hold duty bearers accountable for their actions. (Malawi24)
Making chichewa the official parliamentary lingua is not the way to go. Follow what the policy is for government when it comes to an official language for the country.
This is why those who drafted the constitution said one should be able to write, read as well as speak the Queens language. There are plenty educated people in the country who could execute those noble tasks/posts commendably having walked the corridors of reasonable academic institutions. This is why our friend Lucius Banda faked an MCE qualification because he couldn’t fit the bill. Standards shouldn’t be lowered just for the sake of accommodating our relatives, no way. Let them get the accompanying qualifications and qualities, if not then let them try being Area, Branch, Regional chairpersons. There are some words if translated from English to Chichewa they completely lose meaning or their gravity/emphasis is lost. Please, don’t try it.