President Lazarus Chakwera will not appear in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon to answer questions from the lawmakers as earlier communicated.

According to Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda, the Malawi leader will avail himself at the National Assembly because the House is currently on Committee of Supply deliberating the mid-year budget vote by vote.

“We are in a Committee of Supply and this is a stage where we suspend all other proceedings to concentrate on the Committee of Supply.

“This is the whole reason we have the budget sitting since it’s called the mid-year budget review, so that’s the review itself so we do suspend everything,” said Chimwendo Banda.

He said the President is expected to appear in the House and answer questions from the legislators on Wednesday next week.

“What we have done is just to shift what was supposed to be done this week and do it next week so the President is coming next week Wednesday.

“The President and the Speaker give freedom to ask the questions, it doesn’t really matter whether you are in opposition, independent or government but as long as you are a member of the House, you are free to question the Malawi leader,” said the Leader of the House.

According to Section 89 (4) of the Constitution, the President shall be called to Parliament to answer questions at such times as may be prescribed by the Standing Orders of Parliament or on a motion of the National Assembly.

In additional, the parliamentary standing clearly states that Questions on written notice to the President shall be taken on a Wednesday at least twice in each Meeting of the Assembly.