Parliament has confirmed that the 2020-2021 mid-term budget review meeting will start on  Monday under strict COVID-19 adherence.

According to a Communication from the Speaker of the House Catherine Gotani Hara, the national assembly will combine physical and virtual meetings which will be conducted simultaneously.

“The Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly wishes to inform all Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and the general public that the 2020-2021 Mid-Term Budget Review Meeting of Parliament will commence on Monday, 22nd February, 2021,” said Hara in a statement.

The Meeting was previously scheduled to be held from Monday, 8th February, 2021 to Friday 12th March, 2021 but was postponed following escalating numbers of Covid-19 cases in the country.

The postponement was to allow Parliament to devise appropriate safety measures for its meetings to safeguard the lives of Members of Parliament, staff and all stakeholders.

According the Speaker, Secretariat with guidance from the Business Committee and support from its development partners has since come up with measures for the august House to meet.

“In this regard, the forthcoming Mid –Term Budget Review Meeting of Parliament is going to combine physical and virtual meetings and these will be conducted simultaneously,” she said.

Through the hybrid method, some Members are expected to be physically present in the Chamber while another group of Members will participate virtually.

The Members will be alternating and are all expected to be in Lilongwe during the period of the meeting.

Apart from reviewing the 2020-2021 Budget, the Meeting is expected to deliberate on bills and committee reports.