The State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera will on Thursday, September 10, fulfil his commitment to appear before parliament to answer questions from members of the August house on his State of Nation Address (SONA).

State House press secretary, Brian Banda has confirmed the development on Tuesday.

Chakwera will be the first president in the history of the country to appear before the August house to take questions from legislatures.

Deputy Chairperson for Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, Peter Dimba, also confirmed the development.

Dimba said: “The development follows the adoption of a report by Legal Affairs Committee of parliament which puts into operation a legal provision from section 89 (3) and (4) of the republican constitution that demands the president to answer questions before parliament.”

Commenting on the development, a renowned political analyst from Chancellor college, Ernest Thindwa, backed Chakwera’s move to appear before the August house saying it will enhance transparency and accountability.

The analyst said the move is in line with the republican constitution which demands the president’s appearance in Parliament for a minimum of three times a year.

“It is a fulfilment of what the president has been saying during the campaign period that he is a listening leader and will make sure that his administration is defined by the rule of law,” said Thindwa.

He has however advised legislatures to use this opportunity to engage the President by ensuring that the executive is prioritizing areas that are most important to the citizens, rather than using it to score their political mileage.