DPP drafts bill for House to elect leader of opposition
Reports stemming from impeccable sources within the party indicate that the bill is aimed at allowing all the law makers both in government and the opposition to take part in the voting process of choosing the leader of opposition.
Tembo: Not automatic leader of opposition
While the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been going out and about assuring Malawians over its intentions not to abuse its majority numbers in parliament, the Nyasa Times understands that the party has already drafted a controversial bill to be tabled during the fourth coming budget sitting.
According to Standing Orders of Parliament leader of the largest opposition party automatically assumes the status of the leader of opposition.
This put Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader John Tembo in a well position to lead the opposition in the August House after his party came second with 26 seats from a previous 66.
However, the ruling DPP, with fresh memories of how it used to dance to the tune of Tembo led opposition for the past five years, is not taking chances and according to our sources it intends to use its majority to influence the election of a new leader of opposition.
The source says the DPP has drafted the bill deliberately in order to block Tembo from becoming the leader of opposition a development that has already brought fears and anxiety among within the rank and file of MCP as well as various political analysts.
DPP is reportedly poised to hit Tembo further under the belt by replacing him with either his newly found sworn critic Ishmael Chafukira or youthful Willard Gwengwe.
“The idea to draft the bill is aimed at making Hon. Tembo pay for the sins he committed during the past five years. This is the man who nearly brought the DPP government down to its knees and we’ve decided to hit back by wrestling him the powerful position of leader of opposition.
“He will either be replaced by Hon. Chafukira or Gwengwe,” said a senior member of DPP’s National Governing Council who is also a former cabinet minister.
When contacted MCP deputy publicist Nancy Tembo said she got wind of the DPP’s intentions but was quick to point out that she is yet to confirm if at all it is true.
“I heard about that but I’m not certain whether it is true or not until I find out that’s when as a party we’re going to react, but if at all it is true then that’s very unfortunate and undemocratic,” said Tembo who is a daughter-in-law of the MCP leader.
Efforts to talk to DPP secretary general Henry Chimunthu Banda and publicity secretary Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba proved unsuccessful as they were reportedly attending a party caucus at the state house.
But our source said the bill which got blessings from President Bingu wa Mutharika was drafted by the governing party’s director of constitutional affairs Henry Duncan Phoya who did not pick up his mobile phone after several attempts.
The development comes amid pressure from some MCP MPs led by Chafukira and other independents who have been baying for Tembo’s blood.
Meanwhile, a political analyst at the Chancellor College was quoted in the Nation on Sunday as saying removing Tembo from the position of Leader of Opposition would weaken further the already fragile opposition which lost its numerical supremacy during the just ended polls after the DPP got 114 legislators against the opposition combined 44.
“There is need for somebody with experience and knowledge on the operations of parliament. Yes, people might think of new blood but old soldiers never, in my view Tembo is still an asset and would still be the right person to lead the opposition,” Hussein was quoted as saying.
He therefore warned the DPP that daring to remove Tembo as the leader of opposition would work to the disadvantage of the DPP as this would attract protests from various civil society groups.
Tagged with: DPP, leader of opposition, MCP, parliament, Tembo
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