Atupele Muluzi Backs Sameer Suleman, Says Parliament Must Not Be Silenced

Suleman Chitera
September 11, 2026
Estimated read time 2 min read
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By Suleman Chitera

United Democratic Front (UDF) President Atupele Muluzi has thrown his weight behind Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman in the growing debate over Parliament’s constitutional mandate to scrutinise government institutions.

Muluzi says the dispute should not be viewed merely as a political confrontation, arguing that the bigger issue at stake is whether Parliament can independently perform the oversight functions entrusted to it by the Constitution.

In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Muluzi commended Suleman for standing firm on what he described as a fundamental principle of democratic governance.

He argued that Parliament is an independent arm of government and should not be reduced to an extension of the Executive.

According to Muluzi, Parliament has a clear responsibility to represent citizens, make laws and scrutinise the use and management of public resources and institutions.

He said concerns raised by Malawians about the performance of government departments and public institutions should be subjected to transparent and evidence-based investigations.

Muluzi further maintained that Parliament has constitutional powers to establish committees and determine its own procedures, suggesting that the Speaker must be allowed to discharge his responsibilities without intimidation or political interference.

His intervention adds another political voice to the debate surrounding parliamentary oversight, with the controversy increasingly raising broader questions about institutional independence and checks and balances in Malawi.

For Muluzi, the answer to concerns about public institutions should not be political pressure, but an open process capable of establishing the facts.

He said Malawi needs institutions that are strong enough to demand accountability while operating within the law.

The UDF leader’s position effectively shifts the discussion from personalities to principle: whether Parliament should be able to investigate matters of public concern freely, and whether the findings of such inquiries should be allowed to emerge through established constitutional processes.

Muluzi said the truth should ultimately be established through proper and transparent parliamentary inquiries rather than political interference.