Speaker of the National Assembly, Catherine Gotani Hara, has officially announced the dissolution of Parliament, marking the end of the 2019–2025 cohort of Members of Parliament (MPs) in line with constitutional provisions.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Speaker said the dissolution is in accordance with Section 67(4) of the Constitution, which mandates that the National Assembly be dissolved on July 23 in an election year.
protected by reCAPTCHA
“This marks the end of the legislative term for the current cohort of Members of Parliament, who were elected during the 2019 General Elections,” she stated.
The dissolution paves the way for preparations ahead of the general elections scheduled for later this year. Gotani Hara further clarified that while the Assembly is now dissolved, the Constitution allows for recall under specific conditions.
“If the president is of the opinion that a constitutional crisis or emergency has arisen, he may convene the National Assembly for that purpose alone,” she added.
The current cohort served for six years instead of the standard five-year term due to a constitutional extension following the 2020 court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election, which realigned Malawi’s electoral calendar.
The 2019–2025 parliamentary term included significant legislative moments, such as the passage of key reforms in electoral laws, the handling of COVID-19 response legislation, and oversight of various national development initiatives.
With Parliament now dissolved, the Electoral Commission is expected to ramp up preparations to ensure a smooth transition to the next cohort of legislators through the upcoming polls.
