Malawians are reportedly breathing with a sigh of reliefafter the opposition-led parliament passed President Bingu Wa Mutharika'sgovernment-proposed the $1.6 billion budget.The government had blamed the opposition for deliberately stalling governmentdevelopmental efforts by refusing to pass the budget. Talks on passing the budgetstalled after opposition parties and President Mutharika's government clashedover section 65 of the constitution. Mustapha Hussein is a political scienceprofessor at the University of Malawi Chancellor College in Zomba. He tellsreporter Peter Clottey that Malawians are expressing optimism after the passingof the budget.
"Ithink it is a sigh if relief and people are quite optimistic and very happybecause now they are assured that government business and developmentactivities would be progressing as was expected," Hussein noted.
He said the opposition members had optionsthat informed their decision to approve the budget despite the protractedimpasse.
"Thereare several schools of thought. First, others were suggesting that since 2009is an election year, now if the budget is not passed probably the governmentwould use that as an excuse not to hold these elections. So, for fear of notholding the elections in 2009, which probably the opposition is likely to win,it has influenced the desire to pass the budget. And secondly because of whatwas referred to as the political impasse, the clergy tried to mediate and itwas agreed or it was proposed that the issue of the budget should concurrentlybe tackled together with section 65," he said.
Husseinsaid the clergy played a significant role in resolving the political impassebetween President Mutharika's government and opposition parties.
"Intheir planning it was proposed that soon after the issue of the budget or oncethe budget has been approved, then the issue of section 65 should be tackled,"Hussein pointed out.
Hesaid the opposition would be putting pressure on the speaker of parliament tohave section 65 implemented.
"Yesthey (opposition) have maintained that although the elections are coming soonand they will be coming in 2009, they would still want the issue of section 65tackled. And the main argument is that in so doing, they will be maintainingthe rule of law and constitutionalism would be complied with or the spirit ofconstitutionalism would be upheld. So, that is their main argument," he said.
Husseinsaid President Mutharika's government seems to be content with the approval ofthe budget Thursday.
"Weare yet to see the government's overwhelming reaction, but indications haveshown that the government is happy and is willing to meet the demands of theopposition. There are rumors that a memorandum of understanding that emphasizesthe need to tackle the issue of section 65 soon after the budget has beensigned," Hussein noted.
Malawi'sclergy recently held separate meetings with both the government and theopposition aimed at resolving the political impasse, which was preventing theapproval of the budget.
Onthe 15th of June 2007, the Malawi Supreme Court granted powers to the Speakerof the national assembly to declare vacant seats of MPs (members of parliament)who defected from their parties. In this ruling, Chief Justice Unyolo pointedout that the Speaker of the national assembly could use a controversial provisionto expel any MP who changed party affiliation. The judge also said that theCourt's position is that section 65 is valid because it was consistent withother provisions of the constitution.
Malawianshave reacted differently on this issue. Some still maintain that thisconstitutional provision needs to be revisited and not used this time whilesome argue that the speaker needs to use it during the budget sitting ofparliament. Opposition United Democratic Front party (UDF) and the MalawiCongress Party (MCP) were delighted with the ruling.