Kamlepo causes stir in parliament, slurs DPP legislators

Rumphi east MP Kamlepo Kalua nearly threw Parliament into chaos Wednesday when he called MPs sitting on government side as “those people” irking the government bench that demanded his unconditional apology.

Phalome north MP Anna Kachikho said Kalua is always fond of provoking and insulting the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members of parliament whenever he stands up to contribute in the House.

She asked first deputy speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje to force Kalua to withdraw the word “those people” describing it as unparliamentary, saying members of parliament are addressed as honourable members.

Another legislator said last time Kamlepo called the Democratic Progressive Party MPs “Kapishundas”.

He also slurs the DPP as a “mpwevupwevu” government.

Chilenje ruled Kamlepo out of order and she ordered the unparliamentary language be struck off from Hansard.

The cause of the storm was a statement by Energy minister Bright Msaka who said the DPP led government initiated the upgrading of Kapichira power station that now produces 64 megawatts on the power grid which former president Joyce Banda launched.

This irked Kalua who said there was nothing wrong with Banda launching a programme initiated by former president Bingu wa Mutharika.

“Development is a process; it is not something that should be owned by a certain government. These people should be lectured, they are blind,” charged Kalua.

In responding to the question that triggered the controversy, Msaka said Escom is not able to produce the 290 megawatts, saying this is because of inadequate rains that have caused Lake Malawi waters to recede up to 50m down in some parts.

He said this has caused water to move at 140 cubic metres per second instead of the normal 260 cubic metres per second.

Msaka said the scenario has forced Escom to generate 100 megawatts of electricity.

He said the electricity situation would improve when the US$600m Chinese funded coal powered electricity plant is commissioned.

Msaka also said there will be an extra 1500 megawatts from solar, hydro and coal privately owned power added to the grid within 10 years.