By Dorica Mtenje
LILONGWE Maravipost: Opposition lawmakers have criticised the government cabinet ministers for violating Parliament’s standing orders by hijacking vendor representatives.
In his remarks Leader of Opposition, George Chaponda has the house has a procedure that all petitioners are supposed to pass through the Chief Staff of Parliament (COP) for drafting and bringing them to Parliament.
He said the Deputy speaker of Parliament, Madalitso Kazombo made an early adjournment as the opposition members were voicing out for the normal procedure
“The procedure include the petition representative providing the petition with signatures not the manner it has been handled,”said Chaponda.
He therefore said whatever government has said to the vendors it was just the way of buying peace.
Concurring with Chaponda,Leader of United Democratic Front (UDF) said Parliament has a procedure of bringing together Parliament leaders not Executive.
Poya said if the executive were supposed to vendors on their own they were supposed to invite them to capital hill not at Parliament premises.
The vendor’s representative refused to present a written petition to Parliament, saying that they had given enough to the Ministry of Trade in writing and therefore opted to voice their opinion.
