AGRICULTURE Minister Mtolo Phiri’s proposal to amend Article 153(2) of the Constitution to reintegrate Members of Parliament (MPs) into local councils may appear, on the surface, as a well-intentioned move aimed at improving service delivery. However, this suggestion raises significant concerns about the potential erosion of good governance, the undermining of institutional checks and balances, and the politicization of local government administration. We disagree with the Honourable Minister’s proposal, not out of political partisanship, but from a principled stance that values the integrity of democratic structures and the separation of powers. As a country, we must not lose sight of the primary role of a Member of Parliament. An MP is fundamentally a lawmaker—not an administrator. Their constitutional mandate is...
