The Malawi Parliament's Budget and Finance Committee has expressed concerns over the postponement of the Mid-Year Budget Review meeting, warning that it may leave lawmakers unable to assess government expenditure and progress towards achieving the objectives outlined in the 2026/27 National Budget. The meeting was scheduled to take place from November 9 to December 11 at Parliament Building in Lilongwe. Committee chairperson Sosten Gwengwe stated that the postponement could leave parliament "blind" to how the budget is being implemented.
The postponement was confirmed by Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman, who cited a directive from President Peter Mutharika to defer the sitting until the next Budget Meeting due to the need to redirect financial resources towards El Niño and fuel-related challenges. The President issued the directive on October 23. Gwengwe argued that the Mid-Year Budget Review was essential for correcting weaknesses in budget planning and ensuring that public expenditure remained consistent with parliamentary approvals.
Gwengwe, who served as Finance Minister under the previous Tonse administration, emphasized that parliamentary scrutiny went beyond examining whether government had spent money within approved allocations. He stated that lawmakers also needed to establish whether funds had been released as planned and whether expenditure was producing the intended development outcomes. The 2026/27 National Budget provides for K10.98 trillion in expenditure against projected revenue and grants of K8.13 trillion, leaving a deficit of K2.85 trillion.
The postponement has raised questions about the constitutional procedures governing parliamentary sittings, particularly the respective roles of the President, Speaker, and National Assembly under Section 59 of the Constitution. Although the President's directive allows parliamentary committees to continue working during the postponement, it remains unclear whether alternative arrangements have been made for the Budget and Finance Committee to examine mid-year fiscal performance.
Gwengwe warned that delaying scrutiny until the next budget cycle could allow implementation weaknesses to persist without timely corrective action. He emphasized that the mid-term review was a chance for the Minister of Finance to recast his budget, correcting some planning errors that were not envisaged at the passing of the main budget. The review would also enable the Minister to regularise expenditures that are not aligning with the budget.
The Speaker's statement confirmed the postponement but did not provide a revised meeting date or explain how parliamentary scrutiny of the budget would proceed. The postponement of the sitting does not necessarily mean the mid-year fiscal performance report itself has been cancelled or that all committee-level oversight has ceased. However, the lack of clarity on alternative arrangements has raised concerns about the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight.
The Budget and Finance Committee plays a crucial role in ensuring that the government's budget is implemented effectively and that public expenditure is consistent with parliamentary approvals. The committee's chairperson, Sosten Gwengwe, has urged lawmakers to scrutinise the mid-year budget performance to ensure that the budget is achieving its intended objectives. The postponement of the Mid-Year Budget Review meeting has highlighted the need for clear communication and coordination between the executive and legislative branches of government.
Key points
- The postponement of the Mid-Year Budget Review meeting may leave lawmakers unable to assess government expenditure and progress towards achieving the objectives outlined in the 2026/27 National Budget.
- The 2026/27 National Budget provides for K10.98 trillion in expenditure against projected revenue and grants of K8.13 trillion, leaving a deficit of K2.85 trillion.
- The postponement has raised questions about the constitutional procedures governing parliamentary sittings and the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight.
