By Suleman Chitera
The Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi, Sameer Gaffar Suleman, MP, has held high-level bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart, Milton Dick, in New Delhi, India, marking a significant step in deepening parliamentary cooperation between the two Commonwealth nations.
The meeting took place on the margins of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), a key international forum that brings together parliamentary leaders to share best practices on governance, democracy, and legislative oversight.
During the discussions, the two Speakers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening inter-parliamentary relations through structured engagement, exchange of parliamentary expertise, and cooperation on matters of mutual interest. Areas highlighted included capacity building for Members of Parliament, enhancement of committee systems, legislative transparency, and the promotion of democratic values within Commonwealth legislatures.
In a major diplomatic gesture, the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives formally invited Right Honourable Suleman to undertake an official visit to Australia. The proposed visit is expected to pave the way for deeper institutional collaboration, including parliamentary staff exchanges, learning attachments, and closer cooperation between parliamentary friendship groups.
Right Honourable Suleman welcomed the invitation and underscored Malawi’s desire to learn from Australia’s long-standing parliamentary traditions, particularly in the areas of legislative scrutiny, constituency representation, and the use of technology to improve parliamentary efficiency and public engagement.
The engagement also reinforced the broader Malawi–Australia relationship within the Commonwealth framework, emphasizing shared democratic principles, respect for the rule of law, and people-centred governance.
The talks in New Delhi are widely viewed as a positive milestone that elevates Malawi’s parliamentary diplomacy on the global stage and positions the National Assembly to benefit from strategic partnerships with more established legislatures.
