Mutharika stops parliament meeting

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has postponed the upcoming mid-term budget meeting of Parliament, originally scheduled to run from November 9 to December 11, 2026.

In an official directive from the State House dated October 23, 2026, the president instructed the Speaker of the National Assembly that the fourth meeting of the 52nd session must be pushed back until the next regular Budget Meeting.

According to the administration, this suspension is necessary to immediately redirect critical financial resources toward addressing the nation’s severe fuel crisis and the looming threat of El Niño.

While general sittings of the assembly are paused, the directive notes that Members of Parliament can continue their work through their respective parliamentary committees.

The unilateral decision has quickly ignited widespread political controversy and drawn sharp criticism from analysts, opposition figures, and public watchdog groups like the Public Affairs Committee.

Commentators have warned that canceling a mid-term budget review during economic hardship could plunge the country into a deeper constitutional crisis.

Furthermore, reports indicate that the announcement caught sections of the government and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party off guard, fueling public debate over national priorities and transparency within the administration.