Exodus! Opposition MPs walk out after causing havoc in Malawi Parliament as Mutharika delivers Sona
Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislators managed to halt business in parliament for 45 minutes, holding and delaying President Peter Mutharika’s state of the nation address.
It all started before the Head of State entered into the 193-strong House, when he was inspecting a guard of honour mounted by Malawi Defence Force (MDF) outside the chamber when Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, an MCP legislator stood on a point of order.
However, Speaker of the National Assembly Catherane Gotani Hara denied him the chance to say what he wanted to through the point of order.
What followed was anarchy as the 55 MCP legislators and others who have joined the party after the elections, chanted and made noise, making it impossible for Mutharika to present his state of the national address (sona).
The anarchy was heightened when Madam Speaker sent out of the Chamber Dedza south MP Ismael Onani, forcing all the MCP MPs pretending that they were going out too but stood on the entrance of the chamber for some minutes, chanting, calling Mutharika “Wakuba” [a thief] before returning to their seats.
Then the opposition back-benchers allowed Mutharika to present the Sona.
When Mutharika started his address, the opposition legislators continued with the noise to disrupt his speech and then they walked out en masse.
MCP president Lazarus Chakwera who will be leader of opposition did not turn up.
President Mutharika continued to address the National Assembly in a calm tone.
‘Democracy at its best’
In his address, President Mutharika started by saying all legislators come to the august house every five years to make decisions that define the destiny of the nation.
“It is a precious mission of every generation to decide the fortunes of its next generation,” said Mutharika.
He said: “ Nobody here disputes the results that brought you here. Nobody disputes the election that brought you here. We are here because we have accepted the will of the people.”
Mutharika said it not by mistake that the legislators were in the House.
“ We all have accepted to be sworn in as Members of Parliament because we have accepted that we were legitimately, fairly and credibly elected.
“The five years that we begin today shall be the time given to us to change this nation forever. Together, we hold the power in our choices and decisions to build this nation. This is our sacred duty as Members of Parliament,” said Mutharika.
He continued: “We have a past that brought us here. We must accept that past.
It is wisdom that we must accept the past, in order to decide the present, and shape the future. As I speak, the state of our nation demands that we must decide the present in order to determine the future of this country.”
Mutharika pointed out that on Friday Malawi has seen democracy at its best.
MCP secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka told the media after walking out that they cannot listen to Mutharika because he is an “illegitimate” leader.
“We are here to pass the provisional budget and not to listen to Mutharika. We do not recognize him,” said Mkaka.
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Well done our MPs who protested amalawi tidzitele this happens every democratic country.APM and DPP nothing but mbava ndipo given 5yrs these guys aba osati masewera
Ati Alshabab? Mwayambapo bodza. Dausi wayamba yake ija yomauza Mutharika zonama. Sitinaiwale. Before the elections munati Chilima akubweretsa anthu kuchokera kumaiko akunja kuti adzabere mavoti ndipo munaati mukudziqwa kumene makina odzaberawo ali. Monga boma panthawiyo, simunabwerete poyera umboni which means linali bodza.Tsopano mukuyamba chapter two yamaboza kuuza aMalawi ?
Join the discussion…you choose them for boycotting ? shame on you
Anthu opanda nzeru okha ndi amene angasekelere zimene ma MP a MCP achita. Akulandira ma allowance koma akutuluka mu parliament. Ndi ndalama zamsonkho wanga zimeme akulandirazo. Sadziwa kusiyanitsa pakati pa ndale ndi nyumba yamalamulo. Adziwe kunena kuti akakhala ku parliament akuimilira anthu osati zipani. Akamapanga zopusazi amene azivutika ndi anthu amene anawasankha. Ndichibwana chachikulu chimenechi. MMalawi wa nzeru ndiofunira dziko lake zabwino sangasekelere zimenezi. Ndikudabwa kuti ena mukusekelera zimenezi. Anthuwa akutaya nthawi komanso kuononga ndalama zathu. Kutsogoloku mumva akunena kuti awonjezere masiku a parliament kuti amalizitse zokambirana pamene panopa akutaya nthawi dala. Zopanda nzeru zimenezi.
Infact anthu opanda nzeru, zizete, zotuluka mamina ndikumamwera ndizomwe zikhala kumavetse mbava ikunena kuti ithetsa corruption. Ine singachite
Jolazayu ndi buluzi ameneyu. He likes to hear himself talk. Utter nonsense.
Joloza, ukufuna kunena kuti sukudziwa zoi Peter anabela mavoti? Mutu wako umagwila bwino bwino koma, Ukufuna apereke ulemu kwa munthu osayenera chifukwa choti iweyo unamuthandiza kubera eti? Kuyambira lero usazaneneso kuti ma mp a mcp ndiwogona chifukwa iwo akufuna chilungamo chiyende ngati madzi osati kulamulidwa ndi munthu woti anthu sanamuvoetere, wandikwiyisa kobasi
My fellow Malawians, I have been reading all our comments here, but i have noted with regret some comments especially those defending DPP. The fight against tribalism or regionalism can never be won by words only, or the anger that burning in our hearts. This is the way to go as shown by MCP MPs. Peter and the DPP should have thought about it before tippexing the elections. EFF here in South Africa has 44 MPs but there are able to take the ANC to task there by making Democracy working for the masses. EFF is answering charges on redistribution… Read more »
Well explained.Some of these Malawians then need to be educated for them to know.All they believe is regionalism and tribalism with this we can never grow our country
Which MPs will fight for justice? A tippex omwewa? The courts should nullify all the results (presidential, parliamentary and Local government) tiyambirenso one.
Kodi ndi za Tippex zomwezi?
I want to comment on what Mr. Mutharika said about the Al Shabab to overthrow Government, this is simply trying to buy sympathy from people, and everybody knows about it. Don’t even worry about this, just brush it off. Wazunguzika mutu
well done Mbuzi iyi ichoke pa mpando
This follow the leader syndrome is killing the mighty opposition…imagine no-one tells ochakwela what they are doing is pathetic and a breach of their social contract with the electorate.
How is it a breach of their Social Contract
Peter needs pressure for the rest of 5 years. Every week, Demo!!! Once people hear that he will be going somewhere, miyala on the road
You stupid Maliseche, you mean we should accept what, being robbed of our own right to have a leader we voted for, our own right to leave freely in our land? Mbuzi yopanda ndimano akumusi womwe. I voted for you in 2014 but that is a thing I shall forever regret. I did not know that I was betraying my brother who was born with albinism that time, I did not know you are this clueless, you have no integrity, you are a thief, a killer, and, I did not know you are a son of devil!