Malawi’s parliament has passed a landmark bill to formally regulate the country’s economists, in a move designed to bring the profession under the same kind of legal oversight currently enjoyed by lawyers. The Economics Society of Malawi (Esoma) Bill will give the profession legal teeth for the first time, allowing for the registration and discipline of economists in a manner mirroring the powers held by the Law Society of Malawi over the legal profession. The bill was one of a remarkable four pieces of legislation passed by parliament in a single sitting, alongside the Deposit Insurance Corporation Amendment Bill, the Payment System Amendment Bill and the Financial Crimes Amendment Bill. Remarkably, parliament wrapped up its business early on Thursday after government exhausted the bills it had prepared for presentation – despite Thursdays typically being reserved for private members’ business rather than government legislation. With no further government business left on the agenda, Deputy Leader of the House Shadric Namalomba moved a motion for an early adjournment, which First Deputy Speaker Victor Musowa duly granted at around 3.30pm.