By Burnett Munthali
Speaker of the National Assembly, Sameer Suleman, has reminded Members of Parliament that the official language of proceedings in the House remains English.
He made the statement after several MPs began speaking in Chichewa when given the floor during debates.
Suleman clarified that, for now, the Assembly has not yet made a decision to officially allow the use of other languages, including Chichewa, during sessions.
The reminder aims to ensure that parliamentary proceedings remain consistent with existing rules and protocols.
Meanwhile, organizations such as CDEDI and the Lost History Foundation have submitted a request to the Fourth Parliament advocating for greater inclusion of local languages in the House.
The discussion highlights ongoing debates about language, accessibility, and representation in Malawi’s legislative process.
