UDF denies plot to impeach Speaker: Gets court order on Sec 65

United Democratic Front (UDF) has denied any involvement in the purported impeachment plot against Speaker of National Assembly, Richard Msowoya.

Msowoya faces impeachment over his alleged bias in the handling of the petition by a civil society leader to declare vacant seats of 11 UDF members of Parliament (MPs) who moved to the government benches in Parliament.

But UDF spokesman Ken Ndanga told Nyasa Times on Saturday that his party has never discussed any plan to impeach the Speaker.

“What the party has done as regards the issue of Section 65 is to obtain a stay order from the court which the Supreme Court granted in Thursday and was served on the Speaker last Friday,” said Ndanga.

The impeachment issue is said to have been discussed at the two caucuses DPP held jointly UDF in Lilongwe this month.

But the UDF spokesman said they are simply questioning the impartiality of the Speaker on the matter of Section 65 after a petition signed by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) MP Jessie Kabwila.

“The petitioner is the publicity secretary if the MCP, a party where the Speaker himself is still serving as its vice president. The way he has been handling the matter so far raises some serious questions about his independence,” said Ndanga.

“At the moment we have decided to pursue this matter through the court and we are fighting this matter as UDF party,” he added.

Leader of Government in the House Francis Kasaila has since warned that the impeachment couldn’t be ruled out “if the Speaker steps on people’s toes”.

He issued a stern warning to the Speaker on his decisions.

“The Speaker should tread carefully in coming up with decisions or rulings on matters pertaining to the National Assembly,” said Kasaila as quoted by Weekend Nation.