MP Kamlepo says ‘DPP trying to choke me off’ over his anti-corruption stance

Outspoken Member of Parliament for Rumphi East Constituency, Kamlepo Kalua, has said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is deliberately targeting him “to gag him from exposing various corruption activities in government.”

Kalua alleges that the DPP has formed ‘a special group’ solely meant to suppress him from making further statements that exposes corruption involving cabinet ministers and the party top officials.

He said the special group has also been tasked to make sure that he completely gets out of parliament even before 2019 so that he has no room to reveal corruption in the government.

Said Kalua: “They have so many strategies, by taking me out of parliament because of lawsuits, that if I am declared bankrupt I cannot be a member of parliament, they even came up with measures of even killing me, they have tried their best of doing it, they are still doing it and they will come up with so many cases against me, even threats up to leading to something that will be seriously happening to me but in a way they are failing…”

The legislator further alleged that President Peter Mutharika sanctioned that the special group should use everything at its disposal to get him out of his seat even before 2019.

He cited a court summon that was given to him on 23 Novemberas  an example.

Kalua wondered why he was being summoned to court while Parliament was still in session saying every member is immune to such developments during the time.

“I am not complaining, because that is a strategy of DPP to make me lose Rumphi East seat. And they have earmarked 3 candidates that that I may not mention their names here that they have said we should defeat Kamlepo Kalu at all cost. So it is a strategy that they want to gag me, they want to intimidate me; they are using even this institution to intimidate me. That is state intimidation and institution intimidation that we have in Parliament here. Because if I am gagged and if I am defeated and if I am silenced these issues of corruption will not come out…”

He said as a representative of all Malawians and people of Rumphi East Constituency in particular he will make sure that corruption dies in the country.

“…So I am going to make sure that corruption is a thing of the past. We must live in a Malawi that is corruption free; we must leave in our country something for future generation. So no matter amount of intimidation that they may have against me it is not going to stop me from talking about it. I know it is a strategy of DPP trying to silence those people that are talking about corruption because they failed to come up with something that would see me killed…”

“… They have done it a lot. It is sanctioned by even the President himself that that this one if we fail to deal with him now make sure that by 2019 he should not there or let us find any means so that he comes out of parliament before even 2019. That is their strategy and I am ready for that and I am not even afraid of it. And it will never stop me from pointing out corruption in Malawi.”

A High Court summon from the Lilongwe District Registry seen by Nyasa Times dated 30th June 2016, commands Kalua  to within 14 days respond to it by either satisfying the claim or file a defence and list of documents with the court.

The summons in question was obtained by Jappie Mhango, then Minister of Tourism (now Minister of Transport and Public Works), at the High Court in Lilongwe for alleged defamation following remarks Kalua made in an interview with Times Radio on March 20 2016.

It is alleged that Kalua uttered words that Mhango is against and deems them criminal as they have a potential to disrupt political reliance of other parties.

In the interview Kalua, was explaining an attack allegedly organized by DPP members namely Jappie Mhango,  Khumbo Kachali, Goodall Gondwe, Nichoras Dausi and others on PP and MCP rally in Mzuzu.

He said DPP hired thugs and gave those PP clothes to go and stop him, MCP president, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, Enoch Chihana and Harry Mkandawire from holding a rally in the city.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya has reminded the public, as well as lawyers, that parliamentarians enjoy immunity from prosecution when the National Assembly is meeting.

“I hereby instruct all members of Parliament and all members of staff to refuse any summons directed to members of Parliament,” said Msowoya.

Section 60 (1) of the Constitution grants MPs immunity from arrest, except in cases of treason and that what MPs say in the National Assembly would not be amenable to any action or proceedings in any court other than the august House.