MLS Slams Presidential Postponement of Gazetted Mid-Year Budget Review Meeting of Parliament

The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has strongly criticized President Professor Arthur Peter Muthalika’s decision to postpone the gazetted Mid-Year Budget Review Meeting of Parliament, asserting that the President lacks the constitutional authority to take such action.

In a strongly worded letter dated October 30, 2026, the MLS also faulted the Speaker of Parliament Hon Sameer Suleman for yielding to what it termed an “unlawful directive” from the President and subsequently announcing the postponement.

The professional body of legal practitioners argues that the postponement of the budget review is a direct affront to parliamentary accountability and the essential scrutiny of government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) regarding their utilization of public resources.

While acknowledging the importance of prudent resource management, the MLS emphasized that such decisions must be made strictly within the constitutional framework.

The Society has therefore formally requested the Speaker of Parliament to rescind the decision of postponing the crucial parliamentary meeting in order to give a chance for an oversight role to take its course on how state resources have been used so far from the 2026/2027 approved national budget allocation.