Speaker recognises Nankhumwa as acting House leader after Kabwila, Uladi slurs ‘no show’ Chaponda

Political vultures in parliament are hovering over the head of Leader of the House George Chaponda who was on Monday absent from parliament, heightening speculation that he is honouring a High Court order which suspended him as Agriculture minister.

Speaker Msowoya: Recognises Nankhumwa as leader of the august House in acting capacity

Several opposition parliamentarians, including Peoples Party (PP) leader Uladi Mussa and Salima north west Jessie Kabwila asked Speaker Richard Msowoya to announce in the House that Chaponda is officially suspended from the House following the court order.

The opposition members of parliament asked Msowoya how the House will proceed with government business in the absence of Leader of the House.

Peoples Party Leader in the House Uladi Mussa said it was an anomaly that business was going on before the appointment of a new Leader of the House.

The issue however nearly threw the House in disarray as opposition and government MPs exchanged barbs.

Blantyre north MP  Francis Phiso said Kabwila had no moral grounds to scorn Chaponda when herself was answering a court case and is on bail.

The firebrand Kabwila however hit back, saying if that was the case then President Peter Mutharika and some of his cabinet members; Goodall Gondwe, Patricia Kaliati, Kondwani Nankhumwa, Henry Mussa, Bright Msaka and Jean Kalirani who were charged with treason.

However, Msowoya told the House that parliamentary standing orders are clear that in the absence of the Leader of the House, the deputy Leader of the House shall take over.

The Speaker therefore said he recognises Kondwani Nankhumwa.

“In the absence of communication from the court and from the government, I recognise the deputy leader as Leader of the House until such a time when the Leader of the House shall return to the House,” he said.

He said in the absence of official communication on the suspension of Chaponda, he cannot act.

“As a citizen of this country, I am following issues happening in this country, but this is the House of records, I can’t take what newspapers are publishing or what radios are announcing,” he said.

However, it. transpired that the House has no standing orders that recognise deputy leader of the House or deputy chief whip.

Msowoya therefore said the issue would be tabled at Business Committee meeting on Wednesday.

The legislators also questioned why the House was transacting business when the Business Committee had not met.

Business started at 2pm on Monday with minister of Education presenting a ministerial statement to the House on the status of education in the country.

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IMAGINE
IMAGINE
7 years ago

Chaponda was not suspended as an MP. He can come to Parliament for deliberations as an MP for Mulanje. The stay order is just restraining him to conduct functions of a minister. There is no standing order of parliament that says the leader of the house should only be a minister. Chaponda can therefore work as a leader of the house being an MP. Government has done deliberately not to replace him as leader of the house knowing that Chaponda can still go to Parliamnet in his capacity as an MP. The appointments of the president can be challenged in… Read more »

santana
santana
7 years ago

With the rumours of alliances with PP Kabwila and Jumbe will be the most victims. Kabwila is just a noise maker. She has no principles at all. Why cant she take a leaf from Jumbe who is always factual and opens his mouth only when he has something to inform others while this lady opens her mouth only when she wants to take out bad smell from her mouth. This MCP-PP alliance will only benefit MCP though it will not go to the extent of winning the elections. This alliance will hammer Sidik Mia and Msowoya hard. It only shows… Read more »

Mr Kusolola
Mr Kusolola
7 years ago
Reply to  santana

@ Santana, I don’t see any relevance your comment has on the issue at hand. What I am seeing in you is fear, yes fear of unknown. You have started to shiver even on rumours that do not appear to have substance. MCP is ready to take on DPP has not talked about any alliance. And even if such an alliance happens DPP should not get worried. You are a ruling party and you are already in a working relationship with the makani akutha party, one that used to called UDF. So all I am seeing in you is great… Read more »

Chimanga
Chimanga
7 years ago

kkkkkk Dpp kuona chitsotso cha mmaso mwa anzawo mwao muli chi mtengo

Mweene
Mweene
7 years ago

Palibe nkhani apa: ife sitidandaula. Bwana Chaponda akambilana zonse ndi APM ndi Nankhumwa. Kabwila: What kind of logic is that, as the Joisi Banda’s politically motivated charges against APM, Gondwe et al were dismissed long ago? While your case is still pending. And you can’t be sitting there feeling comfortable at what is happening to Bwana Chaponda. You kidding me? Moreover, your own troubles in MCP, yes the same MCP that persecuted you and your family not in the too distant past, are not over yet. And soon, the Party will kick you out, like investors dump worthless stock. Once… Read more »

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