By Burnett Munthali
LILONGWE — The Parliament of Malawi opened the Third Meeting of its 52nd Session on July 7, 2026, beginning a four-week sitting expected to tackle the plight of returning migrants, economic pressures, public accountability and key legislative business.
The session, which runs through July 31 at the Parliament Building in Lilongwe, was opened by Speaker of Parliament Right Honourable Sameer Suleman, who warned lawmakers against absenteeism and urged them to maintain proper engagement with external stakeholders.
The opening proceedings also saw three newly elected Members of Parliament sworn into office following recent by-elections. They are Ishmael Louis Japan of Machinga Mikoko, Precious Kabambe of Lilongwe City Bwaila and James Makhumula of Balaka Mulunguzi.
All three took their oaths of office and allegiance before formally assuming their parliamentary duties.
Migration concerns quickly emerged as a major issue, with Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda presenting a ministerial statement on the voluntary repatriation of Malawian nationals from South Africa.
Chaponda told Parliament that roughly 30,000 Malawians had returned home following recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, placing the welfare and reintegration of returnees firmly on the parliamentary agenda.
Accountability also featured prominently in the Speaker’s opening remarks. Suleman commended the ongoing work of the Public Accounts Committee and acknowledged the Ad Hoc Committee investigating the Chikangawa plane crash.
Economic pressures dominated early interventions from the Opposition and civil society stakeholders. Leader of the Opposition Simplex Chithyola-Banda pressed the government over the rising cost of living, delays in Constituency Development Fund disbursements and increases in public university tuition fees.
The four-week sitting is expected to feature a broad agenda covering legislative business, economic management, government accountability and the welfare of Malawians returning from South Africa.
Proceedings are being broadcast live daily on Parliament TV and streamed through the official Parliament of Malawi Facebook page, giving the public direct access to debates and other parliamentary business.
