By Edwin Mauluka

Newly elected Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance Chairperson Sosten Gwengwe has pledged to strengthen fiscal oversight and ensure that national budgets are implemented with discipline and accountability.

Speaking to The Forum shortly after his election, Gwengwe said he intends to reinforce the committee’s mandate by closely examining the national budget, monitoring implementation, and ensuring that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) respect approved budget lines.

“We will do our role as the oversight committee and make sure we have a budget that makes sense, a budget that helps our economy move forward and works for Malawians,” he said.

Gwengwe brings significant experience to the position, having previously served as Minister of Trade and later as Minister of Finance under the former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration. He said fiscal indiscipline remains one of the biggest reasons Malawi struggles with budget overruns.

“With discipline, it is possible to implement a budget without overspending,” he said, recalling that during his tenure as Finance Minister the national budget overshot by only MWK10 million. “They asked if it was possible, and I said yes: that is what fiscal discipline looks like.”

Commenting on the new expenditure controls announced by Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha on Friday, Gwengwe urged controlling officers to treat the measures as binding law.

“They should ensure they do not commit government beyond what Parliament has allocated. It is bad to have an unbalanced budget, and going above what has been projected only worsens the situation,” he said.

Also Read: Malawi budget revision pushes expenditure to K8.589 trillion as deficit widens

Earlier, Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman informed members that 15 Parliamentary Committees had completed elections of chairpersons and vice chairpersons. He urged the newly elected leaders to uphold professionalism and diligence as they assume critical roles in oversight, accountability and governance during the new parliamentary term.

Below is the full list of committees and their elected leadership:

1. Agriculture and Irrigation
   Chair: Anthony Kamoto, MP
   Vice Chair: Chikondi Chisale, MP
   
2. Budget
   Chair: Sosten Gwengwe, MP
   Vice Chair: Emily Chinthu Phiri, MP
   
3. Commissions, Statutory Corporations & State Enterprises
   Chair: Sylvester Ayuba James, MP
   Vice Chair: John Jackson Bamusi, MP
   
4. Education, Science and Technology
   Chair: Mutani Tambala, MP
   Vice Chair: Prof. Golden Chizimba Msilimba, MP
   
5. Government Assurances & Public Sector Reforms
   Chair: Samuel Kawale, MP
   Vice Chair: Juliana Kaduya, MP
   
6. Health
   Chair: Anthony Masamba, MP
   Vice Chair: Maureen Nseula Chirwa, MP
   
7. Industry, Trade and Tourism
   Chair: Aeckim Kumwenda, MP
   Vice Chair: Bilal Mussa Tambuli, MP
   
8. Legal Affairs
   Chair: Gilbert Khonyongwa, MP
   Vice Chair: Gift Nankhuni, MP
   
9. Local Authorities & Rural Development
   Chair: Edward Chileka Banda, MP
   Vice Chair: Jacob Mtambalika, MP
   
10. Media and Information Technology
    Chair: Kingwell Liphuka, MP
    Vice Chair: Rhita Sanga, MP
    
11. Natural Resources, Energy & Climate Change
    Chair: Tiaone Hendry, MP
    Vice Chair: Yona Adadawiza Mkandawire, MP
    
12. Public Appointments
    Chair: Felix Njawala, MP
    Vice Chair: Joshua Mlango, MP
    
13. Public Accounts
    Chair: Baba Malondera, MP
    Vice Chair: Tulinje Muluzi, MP
    
14. Social and Community Affairs
    Chair: Savel Kafwafwa, MP
    Vice Chair: Maureen Namwali, MP
    
15. Transport and Public Infrastructure
    Chair: Dumisani Lindani, MP
    Vice Chair: Lincoln Dixon Liwonde, MP

—

Above photo of Gwengwe by Edwin Mauluka