DPP using majority to wipe out opposition
Although the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) made several assurances about its intentions not to abuse its resounding majority in the National Assembly, it still remains to be seen if the party will walk the talk.
The party, which has now 143 MPs in the 193-member House, is said to be behind attempts to block MCP leader John Tembo from assuming the role of leader of opposition.
According to parliament standing orders, leader of the second largest party automatically assumes the position.
However, the DPP using its majority has reportedly rallied behind MCP rebel faction led by fired MCP publicist Ishmael Chafukira in last ditch attempts to bring Tembo down both as leader of opposition and as MCP president.
This according to some political observers is abuse of power in highest order and threat to the country’s young democracy.
“It is an open secret that the ruling DPP is behind the removal of John from both as leader of MCP and leader of opposition and they are using the Chafukira camp. This has to be condemned in stronger terms because it is an indictment on our democracy. If the whole house is allowed to vote on leader of opposition are we really being fair? The opposition parties should be given room to choose a leader of their choice that is what democracy is all about,” said a Blantyre based political think tank who is also a human rights activist.
His counterpart a lecturer at Chancellor College a constituent college of the University of Malawi also expressed deep disappointment with the way the ruling DPP is finding itself involved in the issue of choosing the leader of opposition.
He added that replacing Tembo with Chafukira would breed long term political and constitutional repercussions saying, “It is the leader of the second largest who is supposed to assume the position and not any other member.”
“If Chafukira becomes leader of opposition today, definitely that would draw anger from MCP supporters because Hon. Tembo was elected at a convention meaning he is the legitimate leader of the party as such he is automatically supposed to be the leader of opposition since his party is the second largest in terms of seats in parliament, nobody not even the DPP can take it away from him,” said the Chanco political science professor.
He added: “As I said Hon. Chafukira is a small boy and is no longer a member of MCP. He is now an independent member and unless he should be saying that he wants a leader of opposition to come from the independents. Furthermore the people supporting Chafukira are small boys who are green in politics and hence just confused.”
Most people have viewed the tussling in parliament as a negative development considering that Bingu has a majority, he can do anything in parliament and why should he be fighting parties that are in minority in parliament.
Others have also argued that the behaviour by the DPP leadership will create the unfortunate political tension in the country because there is no way Bingu will finish Tembo or Muluzi without a political cost because these individuals have been around for a long time and have developed strong patronage to the extent that some are prepared to lose their lives just in the name of their leaders.
Some professionals have raised eyebrows as regards the quiet disposition of Prof. Mutharika who people expected to play a moderating effect on the decisions of the executive particularly overzealous behaviors by those want to be seen to be carrying out excessive actions against members of the opposition in the name of serving and pleasing the president.
“We lauded the election of Mutharika and appointment as Minister of Justice because we expected tranquility but what is happening is the opposite. The problem is people now directly link all bad things to the president because the brother is a Justice Minister,” observed another lecturer at Mzuzu University too scared to have his name appear on Nyasa Times.
DPP spokesman Hetherwick Ntaba has disassociated his party from the MCP wrangles.
“The DPP has nothing to do with that,” said Ntaba, adding “There is a clear indication that there is a crisis of confidence. [But] Tembo wants to hang on to dictatorial ways.”
Meanwhile both the opposition MCP and UDF have already spoken out against the idea of amending the standing orders in order to accommodate the ruling party MPs to take part in the process of choosing leader of opposition.
In his inaugural speech president Mutharika promised to observe parliamentary traditions and procedures by using his majority constructively and promised to desist from politically charged motives.
Old Article more than 4 months. Comment is closed.
