DPP’s Chimunthu-Banda remains favourite to win election of Speaker
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) infested Malawi National Assembly meets June 22 to elect a speaker and two deputies ahead of the official opening of its 41st session.
This is the first post-May 19 elections sitting of parliament, which is coming with just about a week before the start of new financial year on July 1. Parliament is supposed to debate and pass national budget by 30th June every year.
Clerk of Parliament Matilda Katopola said the newly-sworn in parliamentarians will convene at 2.00pm to officially endorse the speaker and his two speakers.
The governing DPP proposed its secretary general and former Transport Minister Henry Chimunthu Banda to be the next Speaker to be deputised by Jones Chingola and Juliana Mphande as first and second deputy speakers respectively.
Chingola’s appointment is more of a promotion after he served as second deputy during the past five years. He is the only surviving of the three speakers which included Louis Chimango as speaker and Esther Mcheka Nkhoma as first deputy speaker.
DPP Publicist Hetherwick Ntaba said the party decided to settle for Chimunthu Banda because was the ideal person who could handle the proceedings professionally.
If he is endorsed as speaker today, Chimunthu Banda will have to step down as Secretary General of his party because, according to political commentators, “the office of the speaker demands great impartiality and this impartiality can be compromised if he maintains his position as secretary general.”
Mzuzu University Political Commentator, Noel Mbowela says Banda has no choice but to step down from his party.
“The office of the Speaker by its very nature demands neutrality and it would not be that neutral if Banda remains secretary general of his party. If we are serious about growing our democracy then the DPP should appoint someone else to be SG,” he told local daily last week.
