LILONGWE.

Within the period that government publicised its intention to change the national flag to 'suit current socio economic and political' developments, it has surfaced Capital Hill already ordered the drafting of a Bill which was, allegations point, expected to have been discussed in the current sitting of Parliament.

However, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Reckford Thotho, insists Lilongwe is still carrying out consultations on the proposed change which have now trickled down to chiefs in all districts.

The Bill drafted last year, which top officials from the Judiciary, government, and parliament are shaky to comment on, failed to make it into the Chamber last December 2009.

"That decision will have to be made by OPC (Office of the President and Cabinet). But there is no Bill for the December sitting anyway... At least, not for discussion," Solicitor General, Anthony Kamanga told the Malawi News.

Chief Parliamentary Draftman in the Ministry of Justice Fiona Kalemba, however, said at this stage it was the OPC which had the Bill.

"What is remaining is the information we saw in the press calling for submissions from the public," she said, adding there was no formal submission.

"It's a policy that is being developed. Of course, we cannot change the flag without a Bill." She could not disclose further on whether the development came way before public views were sought on the flag change.

She also told the newspaper the office that instructed them to draft the Bill advised them to stop to make space for consultations.

When the flag change proposal was first floated to the general public, the Livingstonia Synod of Malawi and the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) were branded as anti-government when they questioned the rationale behind the change.

They were joined by numerous other non-governmental institutions that questioned the move - saying public coffers would best be utilised to mitigate looming hunger, natural disastars, health sector and the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

"There is no need to change the flag as proposed as our current social, economic, and political status has not reached a point where this must be the case," argued the institutions.

Executive Director for the Institute for Policy Interaction, Rafik Hajat, wondered if the change would make Malawi a better place and if it truelly reflected the current status.

"Will the flag change bring food on the poor peoples table?" he wondered.

Government has taken a secretive stance on the development, importing over 600 'sample' flags from Turkey, which the Ministry of Information says was not a government action.

"Some ill-minded people have imported the proposed new flags. Government did not do that," he refuted. However, the consignment was addressed and sent to a top government official at the Government Stores and the OPC was served with a delivery quotation of about MK1.2 million.

Minister Thotho called the figure 'minute' and said government would not stoop so low as to order goods to such a low amount.

The general public mainly expresses it sees no need for the national flag to change or be modified as claimed by the government. Most people and non-governmental institutions are of a view the change is politically motivated and being imposed on the people to a few peoples content.