Members of parliament are expected to discuss 24 bills in the three-week meeting of parliament which started on Tuesday.

Speaker of parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda made the announcement in parliament on monday.

“Twenty-four bills will be discussed in this meeting of parliament. Four of the bills have been carried over from last meeting of parliament. The bills will be distributed starting from today(Monday),” Banda said.

He said apart from the bills, there will also be some ministerial statements made to the house.

One of the 24 bills, Bill No 28 of 2010: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, was discussed and passed on Monday. The bill seeks authorisation to get a loan of about K3 billion for irrigation projects in Nkopola in Mangochi and Chintheche in Nkhatabay.

Earlier, there was jubilation in the House as chief Justice Lovemore Munlo presided over the swearing in ceremony of two new MPs, Mavuto Kachali and Raymond Nkhata.

Nkhata and Kachali won Mzimba South West and Mzimba Central seats respectively in by-elections that took place on October 9 this year.