At exactly 11:58 AM on Friday, April 11th ,2025, Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara announced that the first meeting of the 51st session of parliament had come to an end.

This was an illustrious six-year sojourn for most of the 193 lawmakers, one year more than the usual five-year term that they should have stayed in the house.

The additional year followed a constitutional court ruling that nullified the 2019 presidential polls and sanctioned the fresh 2020 elections. While a fresh presidential election was held, the MPs were allowed to remain in office.

The house will officially be dissolved on July 23 but this perhaps might be the final meeting for some lawmakers who may lose the September 16th polls, while some will retain their seats.

Assessing the six-year term of the legislators is a tall order but within themselves, they mark their work as successful.

Most of the members of parliament think they have done what was expected of them. 

Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda expressed gratitude to members of parliament from both sides for their collaborative efforts in passing key legislation.

He said for the past five years that he has been in charge, parliament passed about 100 laws.

Chimwendo Banda emphasised that there is hope for Malawi, citing president Lazarus Chakwera’s leadership and critical sector initiatives. 

Leader of Opposition Dr George Chaponda says the past five years have been full of promises rather than action from Chakwera-led administration.

He said the government has been failing to heed the advice from the opposition.

Lillian Patel is Mangochi South Lawmaker. She has been in this house for 26 years now, having won her first election in 1994.

She says her longevity in the house is testament of the good relationship that she enjoys with her constituents.

“I first won as an MP in 1994. I have served my people since that time. I had a five-year break between 2009 and 2014. The secret for this is because I serve my people well. I intend to contest again this September,” said Patel.

Mike Bango, Kasungu North lawmaker, is a first timer in this house.

He says the past six years have been a learning experience for him but he has delivered.

“The last six years have been learning for me, but I’ve delivered. I have delivered. I think that’s why there is no one showing up to contest on the Malawi Congress Party ticket,” said Bango.

Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira says the outgoing members of parliament have not served Malawians well.

“For the past six years, we have not seen law makers that had the interest of people at heart. We have seen political jostling that derailed the country’s development. Our lawmakers did not do a good job,” observed Kambwandira.

Enerst Thindwa, a political scientist, shares the similar views.

He thinks Malawians deserved better than what the lawmakers offered them.

“If you check the retention rate of lawmakers in Malawi, it is very low. This is a clear sign that only a few do what their constituents require of them. This cohort of lawmakers has not been exceptional. They have failed Malawians,” said Thindwa.

This cohort was also historical as lawmakers elected a female member of parliament as the speaker for the first time in the history of the Southeast African nation.

In 2019, Catherine Gotani Hara, from the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), amassed 97 votes against 93 of Esther Mcheka Chilenje of then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

This was the last session to have 193 members following constituency demarcation that increased the number of MPs to 229.

(Written By Andrew Viano)