Malawi Parliament in sombre mood: MP was due to present evidence of fresh ‘cashgate’ affair

Members of Parliament were in a sombre mood on Monday as the expressed shock at the suddent death of without Mchinji West MP Billy Kanjira Banda.

Parliament meets from Monday afternoon after a weekend recess without Kanjira Banda.

More so Kanjira will never give details of allegations he had confidently and forcebly articulated in the House on Friday that the government was scheming to cashgate money from the Office of the President and Cabinet to give to cabinet ministers and deputy ministers for political propaganda, an allegation that saw First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje throw the legislator out of the House merciless after a prolonged misunderstanding.

Chilenje had told him to go back to parliament on Monday afternoon with evidence after he singled out Leader of the House Francis Kasaira as one of the recipients of a K50 million generous cash donation from the state for the political propaganda to prop up the unpopular government.

However, Kasaira rejected the accusations by Kanjira Banda sayinh the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was ever popular and the winning of Zomba Chisi parliamentary seat far much beating its traditional opponent, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  is an indication the party is as popular and powerful as ever before.

Kanjira Banda also on Friday proposed a cut of K3 billion from the OPC vote, saying state run Malawi Broadcasting Corporation did not deserve part of the money as it is now a propaganda radio station for the ruling DPP.

The deceased and other opposition MPs expressed concern that MBC was not operating as a public broadcaster but DPP mouth piece.

However MBC survived the budget cut which could have affected other radio stations and civil rights groups who access the money from donors in a Democracy Consolidation Programme.

Comedian turned politician, Mulanje South MP Bon Kalindo brought lighter moments in the House when the situation became extremely tense and volatile.

He said MBC has now changed for the better and urged his fellow MPs not to cut the OPC budget.

In addition, he said the office needs more resources than what had been allocated saying it is a busy and high office.