Malawi’s First Deputy Speaker has warned MPs they could face sanctions after a National Assembly sitting recorded a steep drop in attendance, with 71 MPs present and 159 absent, according to Nyasa Times. Nyasa Times reports the First Deputy Speaker raised the issue at the start of proceedings and said most of the absent MPs had not formally asked for permission to miss the sitting.
The Times Group reports the First Deputy Speaker, Victor Musowa, said repeated absenteeism could trigger penalties, including loss of allowances, as Parliament leadership presses lawmakers to attend and account for their absences. The same account of the attendance figures and the warning was also republished by allAfrica, which credited Nyasa Times as the source.