Nankhumwa accuses opposition MCP of ‘hypocrisy’ during discontinuance address: Malawi Parliament adjourns sine die

Leader of the House, Kondwani Nankhumwa, has taken a swipe at the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislators  for their “lack of respect for the Head of State” as displayed when President Peter Mutharika presented the State of the Nation Address (SONA), suggesting that the oldest party has “hypocritical” stand on the May 21 election results.

MCP legislators walk out of Parliament during Sona
 Nankhumwa (L)  with Mutharika before the SONA.-Photo by Govati Nyirenda, Mana
 Leader of the House Nankhumwa, Speaker Gotani Hara and Clerk  Fiona Kalemba

Nankhumwa was presenting his ‘Discontinuance Address’ as Parliament closed ‘Sine Die’ on Friday, July 12, 2019.

MCP MPs caused mayhem in the House on June 21 as they attempted to prevent President Mutharika from delivering his SONA, claiming they did not recognize him as Head of State following the disputed presidential results after the May 21 polls.

Nankhumwa said he held “strong misgiving” and disappointment with the conduct of legislators from MCP to heckle President Mutharika as he delivered the SONA and to walk out of Parliament afterwards.

“This was certainly uncalled for. You displayed lack of respect for the Head of State, who is also head of the Executive branch of government. This conduct smacked of hypocrisy of the highest order on the part of MCP because, surely, esteemed members cannot claim that the same process is okay when it elected them and faulty when it did not elect their President.

“Madam Speaker, the members who protested and walked away that day are in this august House because they were elected through  the same process that also elected President Mutharika and all members present here. It is through the same process that others also lost the elections because that is the very essence of democracy; some win and some lose,” reasoned Nankhumwa, attracting applause from government and independent MP benches.

Nankhumwa, who is also Minsiter of Agriculture, noted that it was “ironical, therefore”, to think that the process can only begin to be faulty where one’s leader has failed to garner substantial support to win the presidency, arguing that type of selective justice ought to be condemned “because it is counter-productive and smacks of hypocrisy”.

“The same members that claim not to recognize President Mutharika are preparing questions and asking the very ministers who were appointed by the same President they call illegitimate. Is this not illogical and a waste of precious time?

“I would like to urge these Honourable members to reconsider this line of thinking because it simply does not make sense,” said the Mulanje Central legislator.

He said he was saying all this to drive a point home that some sixty (60) years from today, Malawi might have an opposition President at the helm of Government power.

“If that time comes, would they like their leader to be disrespected like that by throwing all sorts of insults and name calling? The answer is No,” he said.

He also condemned attempts by MCP Mps to force members to discuss and debate the fate of Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission Jane Ansah, saying this was “unwarranted and against the standing orders, which prevent members from discussing people that are not in this House and may not be able to defend themselves”.

On a reconciliatory note, Nankhumwa thanked the MPs for the spirit of patriotism from the time the 48th Session of Parliament commenced.

“I want to believe that the spirit of cooperation that reigned here especially during the final days of our sitting is an indication of how this House will conduct business in the coming sessions,” he said.

He thanked President Mutharika, for delivering “a deeper and forward looking SONA, which helped set the stage for the financial and economic plan, which will affect our people for the next 12 months”.

I also wish to congratulate Honourable Joseph Mwanamveka, Minister of Finance, for ably presenting a Five Hundred and Eleven Billion, Two Hundred and Sixty Nine Million, Five Hundred Twenty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Ninety Four Kwacha, provisional Mid-term Budget to the august House.

“Similarly, I would also like to congratulate Honourable members for passing this budget, which will help meet expenditure necessary to carry out government services from 1st July to 31st October, 2019 until an appropriate Act is in place,” said Nankhumwa.

 

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Risible
4 years ago

Thank you all for your comments. Now, let us relax over a cup of Mzuzu coffee.

Fck
Fck
4 years ago

Kondwani nankhumwa should be told that if Mcp leader or any opposition leader who will behave like peter will face the same wrath so he must not worry that Malawians will take care of it Mutharika recurved a correct dose of Jane ansahs incompetence a beneficiary of tippex

Sato
Sato
4 years ago

Nankhumwa is hallucinating. Who should we believe? Him or Mutharika? Muthari said the heckling is a sign that Malawi is a democratic country and Nankhumwa says it is hypocrisy to shush the president. DPP is high time DPP threw the towel before losing the little respect it has left.

Check mate
Check mate
4 years ago

My advise to this misguided Hon Minister, please stop being APMs donkey & puppet who happens to be temporary president. You’re a very talented politician in a wrong party that has zero values & conviction to lead. Presidential results are the primary focus because that’s core hence parliamentary results are also being probe in the fraudulent areas. Stop yupping nonsense!🙄🙄🙄

Agenda Setting Theory
Agenda Setting Theory
4 years ago

George Malemia remember that we had tripartite elections: Presidential, Parliamentary and local government. These were three elections which took place on the same day. There is nothing wrong for MCP to challenge presidential elections.

Alex mgeni
Alex mgeni
4 years ago

Zoba kondwani nankhumwa

Kennedy
Kennedy
4 years ago

Desperate to praise that old fool so that you can get more backs. Time will come nothing shall stay hiden mark my words.

Njolo mpilu
Njolo mpilu
4 years ago

Tsitsi la mphuno kapena cimphonongolo!??? Zikuonekela mphavu za desperation .kkkkkkkk

Njolo mpilu
Njolo mpilu
4 years ago

Knhawazo mmmaso bwana pitala. Chill out nkesa mukunjoya!!!!!!

THE APOSTLE
4 years ago

LOMWELIZATION OF PARLIAMENT WILL NOT WORK AT ALL IWE NANKHUMWA…GALU WA MUNTHU

UFA NDI BP VERY SOON. MBAVA IWE SON OF THE DEVIL

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