Malawi a pariah in Commonwealth by govt electing opposition leader – JZU

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, John Tembo, has said Malawi is the only country in the Commonwealth and perhaps the entire democratic world to allow government to choose its Leader of Opposition in Parliament.

Tembo was outmaneuvered when Malawi’s government dominated parliament changed the Standing Orders and procedures for electing a Leader of the Opposition, giving the whole House a right to vote on who will be the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Tembo’s former protégé, Ephraim Kayembe, emerged as winner in the internal Parliamentary voting leaving Tembo, head of the largest opposition party in Parliament, out in the cold.

“I don’t remember anywhere in the Commonwealth where a governing party takes part in choosing a leader in the opposition,” said Tembo on Capital Radio, a privately-run radio station.

Tembo was supposed to be holder of the title by virtue of being head of the largest opposition party in Parliament, according to the original Standing Orders which were waived by the government.

However, he said he is not bitter against Kayembe’s election but rather with the flawed process.

“If you are in government it means that your party has a majority and Leader of Opposition is supposed to discuss bills in parliament without fear so that he can tell where government is going wrong,” pointed out Tembo.

“How can that happen if they are choosing the person?” asked the veteran politician. “Members of the opposition must be left to choose their own man to lead them in parliament and that is democratic because then that man will speak freely in advising government on issues that affect people.”

“Election is not an issue if it’s done properly. The issue we have in parliament is not about Kayembe, it’s not about Tembo, it’s about democracy in this country. Where is democracy going?”

Tembo insisted that the new leader of opposition was elected by government. “Kayembe cannot be proud and say I am democratically elected. By government?”

The MCP president said he was not going to take part in a “sham” election in parliament and that his name was nominated to embarrass him.

“Democracy itself is at stake,” he pointed out.

Kayembe said after his election that he has extended an olive branch to Tembo to work together in parliament but the MCP president refused.

“I haven’t seen any branch late alone an olive one. It has not come to me. He has not spoken to me,” said Tembo, adding that he can only accept an olive branch “if the process is correct”.

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