PP removes Chilenga as chair of parliamentary committee

Former governing People’s Party (PP) has cracked the whip on Chitipa South Constituency, legislator Welani Chilenga,  who was among members of Parliament (MPs) who went against the party’s alleged stance to support the defeated Electoral Reforms Bills during the November meeting of Parliament.

PP has since ‘punished’ Chilenga by removing him from  Natural Resources and Climate Change  Committee in Parliament where he was chairperson.

The party through its parliamentrat leader Ralph Mhone, informed the Speaker’s office’ that  Chilenga has been moved to Media and  Communications Committee as a member.

Chilenga said the redeployment is  a “punishment” for  his  vote against Electoral Reforms Bill including the proposed 50%+1 system of electing a president.

“The decision to join Natural Resources Committee was based on my expertise but I have no media or journalism expertise,” he said.

Chilenga said he will not reject his new posting  in respect of “rule and procedures if political parties and Parliament.”

He, however, said there it “chaos” in PP.

Chilenga, who won on PP ticket, was during President  Peter Mutharika’s rally in Chitipa recently where he was unveiled to the  ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)  supporters as among the MPs who joined the government side in voting against the debating of the 50%+1 electoral reform.

According to PP spokesperson Noah Chimpeni, the move of Chilenga  was normal and that he was once moved  fron Natural Resources committee to another committee.

Some of the PP legislators who voted against or abstained the vote on most of the Electoral Reforms Bills included Rabson Chihaula Shaba of Mzimba South East, Ralph Jooma of Mangochi Monkey-Bay who was absent and  expelled Uladi Mussa the  Salima South MP and former interim president.

Jooma eventually quit his position as PP chief whip in the National Assembly.

MP for Zomba Central Patricia Nangozo, Machinga South East legislator Wilson Ndomondo, Wallace Chawawa of Zomba Chingale and Zomba Changalume MP John Chikalimba voted against the bills.