Speaker Chimunthu biased, charges Kalinde
Malawi’s Speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda on Thursday risked himself to be in contempt of court after he ordered Thyolo North MP Anita Kalinde out of parliament disobeying the High Court injunction served to him against a 30-day suspension but later allowed her back.
Kalinde was in the House after High Court Judge Ivy Kamanga granted her an injunction stopping Parliament from suspending the lawmaker for assaulting Defence Minister Aaron Sangala within the precincts of the National Assembly in Lilongwe almost two weeks ago.
But when she entered the House on Thursday, DPP lawmaker Christopher Ngwira (Mzimba Hora) rose on a point of order to ask why the Speaker allowed Kalinde to attend deliberations when she was on suspension.
The Speaker told the House that he had been served with the court injunction allowing Kalinde to attend parliament. But he however ordered her out in order to consult with his legal advisor on the matter.
The development irked Kalinde, who accused Chimunthu Banda of naked bias, arguing after being served with the injunction, he should have sought legal advise.
The lawmaker said Chimunthu Banda has not been “fair at all” in handling her matter.
But after getting legal counsel, the Speaker allowed Kalinde back inthe House where she was received with a tultumous welcome from members as Sangala looked grumpy in his new looks of bold shaven head.
Justice Kamanga also allowed Kalinde to file for judicial review proceedings against the decision to suspend the legislator.
Kalinde was suspended for 30 days for assaulting Sangala after the minister had made some provocative remarks saying former legislators estranged husband, the late Marshall ‘The Dukes’ Mdukulira was involved in the business of selling human parts.
