Hopes are high as the state President Lazarus Chakwera will deliver his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the opening of 49th session of parliament on September 4, 2020 in the capital Lilongwe.

In a press statement seen by this publication, the event is expected to start at 10:00 am.

According to the statement, the opening of the new Session will coincide with the opening of the Budget Meeting of the National Assembly to consider the 2020/2021national budget.

“The meeting will run up to Friday, 9 October, 2020,” reads the statement.

As the meeting has been hit by Coronavirus pandemic, parliament is advising all stakeholders that “the deliberations of the House will be held under strict Covid-19 measures”

The statement as also reminded the populace that the public chambers will remain closed.

“Parliament of Malawi will, however, put in place mechanism that will allow the public to follow the proceedings of the House,” it reads.

Chakwera became Malawi’s president following the victory he attained in the court sanctioned presidential elections after the May 21, 2019 presidential polls were nullified.