The 2020/2021 mid year budget review meeting has been shifted to February 22, 2021 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Initially, parliament was set to meet from February 8 to March 11 for this year’s Mid-year budget review meeting.

Spokesperson for parliament, Ian Mwenye has confirmed of the development in a statement made available to faceofmalawi publication.

According to Mwenye, the shift follows the Business Committee’s meeting held on Monday chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara.

“The Business Committee has resolved to postpone the meeting inorder to assess further developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and devise appropriate response plans for Parliamentary to meet safely to safeguard the lives of Members of parliament, staff and stakeholders,” reads in part the statement.

Parliament has lost at least five members to Covid-19 in the past three months.