Atupele not in Speaker’s race: UDF not fielding candidate

Leader of United Democratic Front (UDF), Atupele Muluzi, is not gunning for the post of Speaker in the National Assembly and his party is not fielding a acandidate, it has been disclosed.

Parliament elects among its members a Speaker and two deputy speakers during the first session of a new National Assembly after a general elections.

The House in Malawi sits from Monday where the Speaker and two deputies will be elected.

But UDF spokesman Ken Ndanga said ahead of its parliamentary caucus with 14 lawmakers that the party “ will not put up any name for the position of Speaker of the National Assembly. “

Ndanga said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times that the UDF party will support “any name that is mature, trustworthy, credible, sober and ready to serve the interest of all Malawians regardless of which political party the name will come from.”

Reads the statemet: “The party through its members in the National Assembly will strive to defend the constitution, objective and serve the interest of all Malawians under the leadership of Atupele Muluzi.”

Former Speaker Henry Chimunthu-Banda has given tips on who should be elected head of the legislative arm of government, saying a Speaker must possess such qualities as “fairness, good judgment, decisiveness, patience and a good sense of humour.”

Chimunthu said a Speaker must be fair and impartial to sustain the trust of members on both sides of the House.

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