Speaker of the National Assembly Sameer Suleman announced on October 12 that the Malawi Parliament will reconvene on November 9 for a five-week Mid-Year Budget Review Meeting, according to Nyasa Times. The session, which will run until December 11, is designed to evaluate the implementation of the K10.978 trillion 2026/2027 National Budget. Members of Parliament are expected to examine government spending in key sectors such as agriculture, health, education, and infrastructure during a period of high living costs and foreign exchange pressures.
Update: Internal divisions continue to surface within the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Former party ally Vitumbiko Mumba publicly criticised the current MCP leadership, stating the party cannot regain power without new leaders, as reported by Nyasa Times and Malawi24. MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila responded by dismissing his remarks and challenged Mumba to leave the party if he does not support leader Lazarus Chakwera. In a separate political development over the weekend, Vice President Jane Ansah used her 71st birthday celebration to thank President Peter Mutharika for selecting her as his running mate, noting that the decision was initially met with resistance from some governing elites.
Former President Lazarus Chakwera departed for Accra, Ghana, on October 12 to attend the 10th World Assemblies of God Congress, Nyasa Times reports. Chakwera, who previously led the Malawi Assemblies of God, is scheduled to participate in various church engagements from October 14 to 16 before returning to Malawi on October 20.
Update: In response to persistent nationwide fuel shortages, the Malawian government has initiated a crackdown on the illegal fuel trade, according to reports from Nyasa Times and Africanews. Motorists have faced continuous disruptions over the past week as authorities, including the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority and local police, attempt to stabilise the supply chain by targeting fuel hoarders and black-market dealers.