Malawi opposition MCP, PP in parliamentary alliance: DPP claims

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which has a parliamentary coalition with United Democratic Front (UDF) and is on a drive to recruit independent MPs, has said opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Peoples Party (PP) are working together in parliament.

Leader of the House Francis Kasaila said MCP-PP parliamentary alliance is meant to frustrate government.

He said the opposition alliance agreed to reject a government motion to table a bill that could allow government to access a K36 billion loan from the World Bank to cater for post-floods disaster recovery costs.

“We have information that they (MCP and PP) had a joint caucus where they agreed to frustrate government business,” Kasaila claimed.

Kasaila accused the MCP and PP of being “regionalist”, saying the move to defer the bill was a calculated move as the funds will not go to the regions the opposition represent.

But PP leader in parliament Uladi Mussa said government were taking business in the house “in a casual way.”

Mussa said the opposition are only doing their rightful role of “checks and balances.”

The PP parliamentary leader said the opposition will not compromise on “accountability and transparency.”

He said the loan bill was not specific, saying they would not allow to approve the loan and end up “funding DPP” through another form of cashgate.

Mussa downplayed the alliance issue, saying they have a “common platform “of a rejection of lies, corruption and abuse of power.

Leader of Opposition, Lazarus Chakwera, held a news conference last Friday alongside People’s Party (PP) parliamentary leadership.

He said their rejection of the motion was driven by a desire for transparency and accountability.