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Malawi opposition depressed over Parliament failure to meet

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Nyasa Times 01 October, 2008 01:07:00
image House: No Sitting

Malawi opposition parties have voiced their  disillusionment over President Bingu Mutharika remarks reneging on an agreement to summon a special parliamentary sitting to discuss anti-defection law, section 65 of the constitution. 

Mutharika told a news conference on Monday that there would be no sitting of parliament and he will only call the House to meeting only when he is assured that the opposition legislature will “behave”. 

The President’s remarks follows a statement the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) issued that the agreement, which the MPs made to call a special meeting  was merely a "statement of intent".

Before passing the much-delayed 2008/09 national budget, Parliament agreed the House should meet again from 29 September to sort out issues surrounding section 65 of the constitution.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary spokesman Ishmael Chafukira said the opposition was disappointed  with the government's crookedness on the matter.

"We agreed to meet and we are dismayed that government is saying the agreement we signed was not legally binding. I think one can not trust this illegal government," Chafukira said.

United Democratic Front (UDF) Leader in Parliament Dr George Nga Mtafu said President Mutharika should not think he is clever by ducking the constitutional provision.

"It will catch up with him in one way or the other. He shouldn’t think he is clever," Mtafu said.

UDF parliamentary leader said government's reneging on the agreement was blatant breach of trust.

Mutharika fears that his government will crumble if the over 70 MPs that were poached from opposition to support government are expelled from the House.

Comments (11 posted):

maggie on 01 October, 2008 04:17:42
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unfortunately thats what happens when agreements are signed under duress--obviously the govt side signed that document 'at gun point' - either sign or no budget!!once the source of fear was removed the govt was always going to renegade on the forced agreement.. the opposition should not pretend that they were THAT naive not to see this coming. * personally believe that S65 should be implemented (- prostituting mps should be taught a lesson once and for all) but * thought it was morally wrong and politically suicidal to link that with a national budget! and by the way does parliament really have to be in session for the speaker to implement s65?? one other thing that baffles me is why the opposition insist on pursuing a political front to this issue - why dont they use the legal avenue. it is obvious that for as long as some mps have injunctions against the speaker, the govt side will always take the moral higher ground and say " the opposition wants the speaker to act against a court order"! this battle in the drawn out war has been lost and the sooner the opposition realises this the better (win some, lose some). the electorate will remember this next year. the last thing the opposition wants is to keep on reminding the electorate that they value s65 more than the national budget. believe you me that is not a vote winning attribute!
Nyasaman on 01 October, 2008 07:57:02
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Meeting for what.Adzikalima uko nthawi yakwana alesi amenewa.Sec 65 useless now.We the voters want Sec 64 back then we can suport your 65.
chingwe chambuzi on 01 October, 2008 10:18:21
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There is nothing for the opposition to worry about here. It is time to concetrate on next years election and campaign vigourosly as time is running out.

Measures should be put in place to punish all those that are practicing political harlotry including the incumbent head of state who ditched the party whose ticket he won the election on.

We need measures that will prevent this political circus from recurring.

A lesson has to be learnt by power hungry maniacs like Muluzi who made this possible by imposing a non deserver like Munthalika on the electrolate.

Let the bets man win.
Ritta Kamba on 01 October, 2008 10:36:10
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Munvetsa Parliament izakomana after May 2009. No point at all now ask me.
austin chirwa on 01 October, 2008 01:01:37
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* want to agree wiith Nyasa man about the croockedness of Opposition side that you are fighing for the survival of your parties and not the electorate.If yu want to convince us on this you would have thought about bringing back s64 inevitably we would believe you. Otherwise if you think Bingu is a thief he has been sent to catch another thief.
nganituwe on 01 October, 2008 03:02:22
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if one goes to the archive of this forum, will see that nganituwe observed that the opposition is very weak. It was weak for them to accept any agreements with the government that has never kept any promise in history .DPP will be credited for that starting with Bingu dishing his party UDF then the MPs crossing the floor without mandate from their voters, then came the budgets since 2004 still listening to them? better come the elections we shall fire you out because you do not know your duty.Bravo Moya Bingu waseweretsa anawa kwabasi they do not know politics.they thought thy were clever but now all can see you are no one.
Nthonyiwakonana Mbwiye wapata on 01 October, 2008 03:53:07
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Dictatorship at its best. Mbali ina tingoti go and kampeni kwambiri. As of now anthu awa sangakulolereni chilichonse. munya muona, mumziwanso kuti ndi chitsulo cha njanji.
Ritta Kamba on 01 October, 2008 05:24:31
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Poor MPs so you expected to meet and make some allowances? Monse muja Bingu simunamuzolowere? No meeting will take place until the next elections are held. Your time is past. Byee to those who will capsize in the next elections. Better start finding alternative sources of income now before it is too late. Tune your CV and return to realities of life.
Hands Kawoko on 02 October, 2008 09:21:32
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Kodi otsutsa bomawo, amaganiza kuti ndi zoona zomwe Chimunthu Banda amawauza kuti msonkhano wina udzayianitsidwa okambirana za lamulo 65? Otsutsa bomawa pena pake ali ndi tulo zedi. Ndikangati a boma awagwiritsa nfuwa lamoto ndi nkhani ngati zimenezi? Pali pano nthawi yatha, palibenso chifukwa chokambirana gawo 65 la malamulo athu ayi, tidikire chaka cha mawa basi. Ukoma kwake mwamudziwa nzanuyu kuti ndi katakwi pa bodza, ndipo ndi engieenr wodziwa kunyengerera anthu, mpaka a Tembo ndi anzawo a Ntafu kugona tulo ndithu? Pepani, nthawi yatha kale, inu ingolimbikirani kampeni basi, anthu awuzeni zoona.
mwene on 02 October, 2008 02:18:00
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* already commented here,once again * state that there is no relatioship between budget,section 65 and COP.
Therefore the agreement between opposition and government was null and void.Government side saw this but mbuli za opposition couldn'*, that is why they are crying to this day.
Section 65 is in court by individual MPs and not government.Every person has a right to seek justice and government can'* force/advise an individual what to do.
COP is appointed by the president and MPs cannot advise the appointing authority what to do.
Budget is for the Malawi nation,it is neither government nor opposition budget period.
People of unsound reasoning are the ones that can mix the three, OPPOSITION MPs pathetic!
chisale on 02 October, 2008 05:29:14
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muzingolandila ma k25 anuwo osati kufuna kupita ku paliyamenti ngati mukakambiranako za nzeru. magetsi, madzi mukukana ife tingamwe section 65? kapena kunikira... Nthawi yanu yatha basi kapangi kampeni mwina angakuvotereninso komanso ambirinu mwakalamba. kuthawa ***** kumudzi eti
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