Political expert wants presidential powers trimmed on CoP appointment
A University of Malawi political expert is calling for the trimming of presidential powers so that the head of state should not appoint a chief executive officer of parliament, saying this is a great threat to democracy.
Political scientist Blessings Chinsinga said it was an anomaly in our Constitution that allowed the head of the executive arm of government to appoint a chief executive officer of parliament, a separate arm of government.
“The DPP should live up to its campaign promises. They promised reduction of presidential powers,” said Chinsinga, who is a professor of political science at Chancellor College, the constituent college of the University of Malawi.
His comments come barely days after President Peter Mutharika said he handpicked Fiona Kalemba as parliament’s clerk of parliament although she came a distant third in interviews conducted y the Parliamentary Service Commission.
Mutharika defended his decision to leave Judge Charles Mhango who came first during the interviews, saying Kalemba is an expert in bill drafting.
The President was parrying away accusations of nepotism, tribalism and regionalism in the appointment of the clerk of parliament, saying the law provides that parliament gives him three names for consideration and gives him powers to appoint the clerk of parliament of his choice.
But Chinsinga said the law needs to e changed as a matter of urgency.
“He should leave the appointment of the clerk of parliament to the Parliamentary Service Commission. It is not healthy that the president should have a say in the appointment if an officer at the National Assembly. This is a threat to democracy. This is a serious anomaly that should be corrected,” said Chinsinga.
incidentally, some section of society also accused the speaker of the Narional Assembly Richard Msowoya, who is also chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission for nepotism and tribalism for favouring Mkandawire.
Who this chisinga in the history of Malawi to attract our attention? he utters nonsense when he talks and he don,t know when to talk what.chisinga is a well educated savage I ever seen and you expect such lectures to produce politicians,loyals,judges and public administrators of sound mind,no way! such lectures are the ones who are producing thieves,corrupt citizens and incompetent officers.
COP WAS NOT INTERVIEWED BY SPEAKER RICHARD MSOWOYA ALONE BUT A PANNEL OF INTERVIEWERS .THE INTERVIEWERS CAME UP WITH INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WHICH AMONGST OTHERS INCLUDED THE AREA OF BILL DRAFTING.IF INDEED THE PETER MUTHALIKA PICKED CANDIDATE IS AN EXPERT IN BILL DRAFTING, SHE SHOULD HAVE DEMONSTRATED HER EXPERTISE RIGHT THERE IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM NOT OTHERWISE. IF SOMEBODY CAME THIRD EVEN IF SHE MAY BE AN EXPERT IN DRAFTING BILLS, IT IS A CLEAR TESTIMONY THAT SHE EXPOSED WEAKNESSES IN OTHER AREAS. DID PETER MUTHALIKA INTERVIEW BEHIND SCENES TO PROVE THAT THEY CANNOT DRAFT BILLS BETTER THAT HER CANDIDATE? I… Read more »
Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa gender equality maybe hidden a gender nepotism
The last sentence is incorrect. It is the writer’s voice not MPs. Which MPs are you talking about? mention them. The writer is a DPP supporter. There is no evidence that Msowaya favoured Mkandawire. Someone came number in the interviews, how was he favoured?
Fellow Malawians, ma Professors awa ndi aganyu basi. Ma theories awo amasankha popanga apply. Such posts need vetting which I do not see in the process of filling such vaccancies. Democracy can not be deemed to be threatened by the Presidency alone, even such developments as in this situation. Why should someone have prior preference for someone even before interviews? Nepostic tendencies are destroying Malawi, yes, I have heard some quarters saying that unequal consideration for Ministerial appointments various locations of Malawi amount to nepotistic tendencies. I tend to disagree because being a minister is not necessarily a contractual employment.… Read more »
Achinsinga zikuwoneka kuti kusukulu mwapitako koma sinakupindulireni mukuganiza ngati mwana amene amawo abwino ndi amake okha basi.
Since the Constitution provides for the President to exercise his discretion in appointing a name from among the list of recommended candidates, there is NO reason to fault the President. It is also a mistaken view to bring into the discussion issues of nepotism either on the part of the interview committee or the President. In fact, given a list of 3 qualified people, one of whom is a woman, the appointment of a woman is laudable. Isn’t the Clerk of Parliament a Civil Servant? If so, all rules and regulations that apply to appointments of civil servants at various… Read more »
Blessings wataika
You have goofed on this one Mr Chinsinga, big time. Speaker, Yes, elected, but COP is through interviews and then name goes to President for approval or rejection. Checks on abuse of power. by the way, the speaker and Parliament can also abuse power (ultra vires) for political and material gains. You need to go for refresher course Blessings, or were you misqouted. Sometimes these journos amafuna kutapana mkamwa basi Ask Mulli.
that was women empowering, what is your problem?