Section 65 of the Constitution is very clear about Members of Parliament (MPs) who defect to other political parties. It states: “The Speaker shall declare vacant the seat of any member of the National Assembly who was, at the time his or her election, a member of one political party represented in the National Assembly, […]
Speaker Richard Msowoya’s Section 65 case, in which pro-government groups have taken him to court for leaving the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), a party that sponsored him into the House to join the United Transformation Movement (UTM), goes back to court t this Friday. Fryson Chodzi, the leader of the pro-government Joint Civil Society on […]
Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya has opted to hire private lawyers to represent him in the Section 65 case ignoring the Attorney General who has a political compromised stand as he is also the legal advisor to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). DPP funded Forum for National Development (FND) has taken Msowoya to […]
The High Court in Lilongwe has set August 28 for the hearing of a case in which Forum for National Development (FND) has taken Speaker of the National Assembly to court for crossing the floor. FND executive director Fyson Chodzi has confirmed that Msowoya will have to defend himself in court for crossing the floor […]
Forum for National Development (FND) has taken to court to ask an order of interlocutory injunction restraining for Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya from exercising functions and duties as head of the legislative body for joining the United Transformation Movement (UTM). The application lodged by lawyer Bob Chimkango want the court to stop […]
The opposition Peoples Party (PP) says it will ask the Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya to invoke Section 65 of the Constitution and punish lawmkaers who have crossed the floor in Parliament. Mzimba West MP, Harry Mkandawire informed First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje that the party will bring a petition on an issue that […]
Eleven United Democratic Front (UDF) members of Parliament (MPs) who moved to the government benches in Parliament who gone to court again to seek protection after Mzimba West MP, Harry Mkandawire (PP) has petitioned Speaker Richard Msowoya to declare their seats vacant on account that they had crossed the floor in contravention of Section 65 […]
Lilongwe Msozi south legislator Vitus Dzoole Mwale on Friday demanded debate in parliament on Republican Constitution Section 65 following the decision by the United Democratic Front (UDF) to join government benches in the House and allegations that the two deputy speakers were pocketing K500, 000 each in exaggerated house allowances. Dzoole Mwale complained to first […]
Human rights activist Billy Mayaya has withdrawn from a case where he applied to join in a matter where 11 United Democratic Front (UDF) members of Parliament (MPs) are challenging their possible expulsion from the National Assembly over their alleged crossing of the floor. Mayaya petitioned Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya to declare UDF MPs […]
The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal has sparked a “constitutional crisis” by their decision to grant 11 United Democratic Front (UDF) members of Parliament (MPs) an injunction pending judicial review in a case where they sought redress on Speaker Richard Msowoya’s impending decision on their status based on Section 65 of the Constitution. Member of […]
Outspoken Malawi human rights campaigner and social commentator Billy Mayaya on Monday accused the Executive and Judiciary for e overstepping their bounds as branches of government by interfering with the legislative arm – National Assembly. Mayaya told a news conference at Crossroads Hotel in the capital Lilongwe on Monday that the legislature is being suffocated by Executive […]
United Democratic Front (UDF) has denied any involvement in the purported impeachment plot against Speaker of National Assembly, Richard Msowoya. Msowoya faces impeachment over his alleged bias in the handling of the petition by a civil society leader to declare vacant seats of 11 UDF members of Parliament (MPs) who moved to the government benches […]
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Member of Parliament for Salima North West Dr Jessie Kabwila has petitioned office of the Speaker of the National Assembly, asking it to kick out the 11 United Democratic Front members of Parliament who recently moved to government benches. Kabwila said on Friday that she has decided to join human rights defender and […]
Vocal human rights activist Billy Mayaya has hit at Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale on the way he is acting on issues surrounding the position of United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs in Parliament in the face of Section 65 anti-defection law for moving to government benches. Kaphale wrote Speaker Richard Msowoya expressing that he already […]
The United Democratic Front (UDF), which relocated from opposition to government benches, continues to lose its identity in Parliament with Speaker Richard Msowoya announcing the party has lost membership in the Business Committee. Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) MPs questioned the decision by Speaker to include Lilian Patel as UDF chief whip in the business […]
Section 65 of the Constitution empowers the Speaker to declare vacant the seat of a Member of Parliament (MP) who has crossed the floor.However Order 46 (1) of the Parliamentary Standing Orders indicates that this is by way of petitioning the Speaker. Can a person who is neither a Member of Parliament nor a duly […]
United Democratic Front (UDF) has described human rights campaigner Billy Mayaya as a politician who is wearing an activist’s coat. UDF spokesperson Ken Ndanga made the claims after accusing Mayaya of orchestrating a conspiracy against his party. This follows Mayaya’s petition to the Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya asking him to guarantee “orderliness and decorum” […]
Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Affairs Security, Atupele Muluzi has said he remains the president of United Democratic Front (UDF) and its voice in parliament and cabinet . Muluzi said UDF has one command structure led by him as president. “I am the leader of the party, I speak as a leader of the […]