Chidanti contemp case on Friday will not affect Parliament – Speaker

Speaker of National Assembly, Richard Msowoya, on Thursday told Members of Parliament that a court case involving Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee of Agriculture, Joseph Chidanti Malunga and Transglobe Produce Export Limited, will not affect Friday parliament proceedings.

Malunga: Contempt

Msowoya, who is also the Vice President for main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), said this Thursday morning when Parliamentarian for Lilongwe Msozi South, Vitus Dzoole Mwale, sought clarification on the matter.

Malunga has been taken to court for contempt for allegedly making prejudicial statements with potential to interfere with administration of justice, when Transglobe obtained an order stopping implementation of the Farm Input Subsidy Programme.

Transglobe went to Court after it was dropped from participating in the subsidy programme for its alleged involvement in the Zambia maize procurement deal.

Malunga threatened the grain dealer from operating in the country if the injunction was not withdrawn within 48 hours.

“We are ordering Transglobe, within the next 48 hours, to withdraw the order, failing which, we shall have no option but recommend to the House, as we meet in November, to pass a resolution to bar Transglobe from operating in the country,” said Malunga at a press briefing held in Lilongwe on October 31.

But this did not go down well with the company which subsequently filed for contempt of court against Malunga.

Transglobe and the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture have been at daggers since the grain dealer got implicated in the Zambia maize procurement deal, which also saw Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development being fired on the same.

Meanwhile, the Business Committee of the House resolved to take over the contempt case with Members of Parliament calling the company to drop the case or sue the House not Malunga.

The MPs argues that Malunga was representing the House when he was issuing the order against Transglobe.

Currenlty,  Chaponda, Rashid Tayub, one of Transglobe company are being prosecuted for their alleged dubious involvement in the procurement of maize from Zambia.

Meanwhile, one of the Lawyers representing former Agriculture Minister George Chaponda in the case, Frank Mbeta, has discharged himself from the case.

Mbeta filed the notice of discharge Thursday morning and this leaves Jai Banda, Tamanda Chokhotho, Madalo Banda, Madalitso Mneta and Lusungu Gondwe on the defence team.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday paraded its second witness, Feckson Kantonga for cross examination.

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mmc
mmc
6 years ago

While I don’t like corruption…I also like people who respect the law this is very important…nobody is above the law….and these issues must never get personal…the best Chidanti should have done is to respect the courts and not get emotional

DPP BOMA
DPP BOMA
6 years ago

Kkkkkkkkkkkk

Hatton
Hatton
6 years ago

Parliament singatenge mulandu umenewo. Taking that case means that any custodial punishment will be leveled on the speaker. I am sure Msowoya sangaimve imeneyo.

Mahera
Mahera
6 years ago

Okay, ife tikuti parliament ikakhalire ku court komweko. This is war between the Asian company and the Citizens of this country.
We will meet there at the court.

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