President Peter Mutharika will officially open the 52nd Session of Parliament on October 31, launching the 2025/26 Mid-Term Budget Review. The session will review the K8.08 trillion national budget amid mounting fiscal pressures and a widening deficit.

By Edwin Mauluka

President Peter Mutharika will open the 52nd Session of Parliament on October 31, 2025, marking the official start of the First Meeting of the National Assembly and the 2025/2026 Mid-Term Budget Review, the Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba announced Monday.

“The opening of the new session will mark the official beginning of the First Meeting of the National Assembly in the 52nd Session of Parliament, which will also be the 2025/2026 Mid-Term Budget Review Meeting,” Kalemba said.

The mid-budget review is scheduled to run from November 5 to December 5, 2025, during which lawmakers will review the K8.08 trillion national budget passed in April by the former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration, which lost power in the September 16 general elections.

Ordinarily, the mid-year budget review allows Parliament to adjust fiscal projections and spending priorities in line with the prevailing economic environment. However, the budget already posted a K669.3 billion deficit in the first quarter of the fiscal year against an annual projection of K2.47 trillion.

Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony for the 224 newly elected Members of Parliament began Monday in the National Assembly in Lilongwe and concludes today, overseen by Deputy Chief Justice Lovemore Chikopa who appealed to the lawmakers to carry out their duties with “fidelity, diligence and integrity.” The lawmakers are taking their oaths using either the Bible, Quran, or Affirmation.

The House is expected to elect its leadership — Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Second Deputy Speaker — on Wednesday.

For the Speaker’s position, Sameer Suleman (Blantyre City South East, DPP) and Peter Dimba (Phiri La Njuzi, MCP) are the main contenders. In the First Deputy Speaker race, Victor Musowa (Mulanje Bale, DPP) faces Catharine Nzumara (Mzimba North, UTM), while Esther Jolobala (Machinga East, UDF) is vying for Second Deputy Speaker.