MP asks Speaker to declare if he is DPP or PP member
Speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda had a rude awakening on Tuesday when Lilongwe Nsinja North parliamentarian Peter Chalera demanded that Banda should declare whether he is still a member of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or has joined the People’s Party.
The challenge from the MCP MP attracted both jeers and cheers from members in the house.
Chimunthu Banda sounding annoyed however refused to be drawn into debate with the Mp arguing that as per parliamentary standing orders he’s not allowed to engage into debate with members.
“I must state here that the Speaker will not engage into debate with the honourable member because our rules do not permit that,” he said
Most DPP members however were seen cracking up and enjoying the moment.
Speaker then lashed out at Chalera accusing him of eating into precious time of budget debate as well as tax payers’ money by introducing issues that are irrelevant.
Chimunthu Banda was secretary general of DPP but resigned when he was elected Speaker.
The first DPP Secretary General was Ken Zikhale Ng’oma who was appointed soon after late Bingu wa Mutharika formed the party following his breakaway from United Democratic Front (UDF), the party that sponsored him into power in 2004.
Ng’oma resigned from DPP after he was demoted to Organising Secretary and his position was taken over by the current state President Joyce Banda, who also resigned.
Then Hetherwick Ntaba was appointed as Secretary general before he was replaced by Chimunthu and then Kutsaira who was also kicked out for the current Wakuda Kamanga.
