Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the banner Malawi Civil Society Led Black Economic Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) have faulted Malawi Parliament for what the they call overstepping its mandate regarding the sale of Gam Fuels Gas Station in Lilongwe. 

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday in Lilongwe, MaBLEM Chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba demanded that Parliament should withdraw its motion which the House adopted last week regarding the matter.

He said: “It has to be taken off because it was premised on wrong assumptions, when you look at the mover had issues to do with the same judge and there was no objectivity in bringing that motion.

Parliament may have had the right to debate the matter but unfortunately Kamlepo Kalua failed to declare his interest with the responsible judge hence brought the whole Parliament to debate on a matter that should have not been brought by him.”

The Movement has further demanded that the august House should allow the Judicial Service Commission to carry out its mandate on the matter unlike lawmakers debating the issue which they say is still being handled by the court.

The CSOs have since threatened to lead nationwide demonstrations if Parliament continues deliberating the issue.

“We will take Parliament to task, we will submit petitions and ensure that they comply with our demand, we will mobilise Malawians who are interested in safeguarding the independence of our organs and respect for rule of law and take them to Parliament,” Mkwezalamba said.

Last week, Parliament adopted a motion mandating its Committee on Legal Affairs to carry out an inquiry into circumstances that led to the sale of Gam Fuels Service Station that was owned by Gerson Mkweza of Gam Investments and Fuels Limited.