Malawi’s Public Affairs Committee (Pac) has asked the country’s judges to give the public a clear direction to be taken on Section 65 of the constitution, a law the bars Members of Parliament from joining another political party once elected into the Legislature. Pac Chairperson Felix Chingota made the remarks after engaging the judges over […]
Supreme Court Judge Dunstain Mwaungulu has given an expert legal opinion to Public Affairs Committee (PAC) in relation to controversial anti defection law Section 65 indicating that the Speaker’s hands are not tied under the current law and PAC has called for action. This was disclosed by PAC chairperson Rev Dr Felix Chimbote when the […]
Malawi’s interfaith organization, Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has recomended that amending the electoral law on electing a Head of State from the current first-past-the-post and adopt a 50 per cent plus one law to ensure that the winner of presidential elections enjoyed majority support. PAC spokesperson Father Peter Mulomole disclosed this through a media statement […]
The sole Member of Parliament (MP) for Chipani Cha Pfuko (CCP) Davis Chester Katsonga, who on Monday joined the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has challenged that he cannot not be deemed to have crossed as he is the only CCP’s law maker in the House. Katsonga wrote Speaker Richard Msowoya that he had made […]
Britsh High Commissioner Michael Nevin has appealed to Members of Parliamentary implement the controversial anti-defection law Section 65 of Constitution of the Republic of Malawi. The High Commissioner was speaking on Thursday during a two-day post May 20 Tripartite Elections conference held in Lilongwe. Nevin said the Section 65 of the Constitution, which bars Members of Parliament from defecting […]
Malawi’s newly-elected Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya, has promised neutrality during his tenure of office and uphold the Constitution. Smartly dressed in dark gray suit, was physically dragged from his seat by MP Dzoole Mwale and deposited into the Speaker’s chair as tradition dictates when he was declared him as winner. He was crowned with […]
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Rev. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, expected to take up the leader of the opposition title in the National Assembly, has vowed to ensure Section 65 of the Constitution is applied to prevent Members of Parliament (MPs) from crossing the floor. The provision which is in Malawi’s constitution bars defections of lawmakers. […]
Despite winning a new five-year mandate, Malawi President-elect Peter Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) failed to amass a legislative majority, a situation that could render his government inept and unable to govern should the opposition decide not to cooperate. A leading political analyst has however, favoured the ruling party not to face legislative hurdles. “The […]
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has said he will stop politicians switching parties when there is a news administration. Mutharika said his administration will not accommodate political prostitution. “We need politicians who will be able to deferentiate between what is right and what is wrong. We don’t want politicians who move from one party to another. […]
Law experts have argued that State Vice President Khumbo Kachali, who has resigned from People’s Party to rejoin opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cannot be disqualified as parliamentary candidate for Mzimba South West. PP officials are asking the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to consider postpone elections in the constituency which Kachale was contesting as a […]
It never ceases to amaze me as to how timid we, Malawians, are when it comes to standing up for our God and constitutionally given rights. One thing for sure, we are excellent at grumbling, apportioning blame and wishing things were better. But we are a hopeless lot when it comes to grabbing the bull […]
The High Court in Mzuzu on Monday ordered Speaker of Parliament, Henry Chimunthu Banda to re-instate Henry Mpofu Shawa as Blantyre Bangwe legislator pending a judicial review. Shawa last week obtained a court injunction after the Speaker invoked the anti-defection law, Section 65 for crossing the floor in Parliament. Making the announce in Parliament, Speaker […]
Malawi’s constitutional lawyer Edge Kanyongolo is expressing the need for the country to consider removing the conflict of interest that makes the speaker of parliament to act on legal issues which are political in nature that involve the speaker’s office. Kanyongolo was reacting to the concerns over delays by the speaker’s office to push for the […]
Malawi’s governing Peoples Party (PP) has described as questionable the conduct of Speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda for exercising his powers to revoke Section 65 of the Malawi Constitution, which bars members of parliament from crossing the floor with his first victim being Blantyre Bangwe legislator Henry Mpofu Shawa. PP Deputy Publicity Secretary, Ken […]
When William Gladstone (British politician, 1809 – 1898) coined the adage “justice delayed, is justice denied” he was spot on. Any individual whose rights have one way or another been compromised, ought to have their case heard and decided upon – with all speed – by a competent court of law. The opposite is also […]
1. PREAMBLE Honourable Members, on 19th June 2012, I was petitioned by the United Democratic Front (UDF) through its Secretary General Mr. Kennedy Samson Makwangwala, to declare vacant a seat of a Member of Parliament who was elected to Parliament on UDF ticket, but had resigned from the party on the ground that he has […]
Speaker of the National Assembly Henry Chimunthu Banda has declared vacant, a parliamentary seat of Henry Mpofu Shaba after invoking section 65 of the Constitution which bars a member of a political party represented in parliament to join another political party with parliamentary representation. Shaba won Blantyre-Bangwe constituency on United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket and […]
Speaker of the National Assembly, Henry Chimunthu Banda is on Tuesday expected to give a ruling on three United Democratic Front (UDF) Members of Parliament who dished their party and joined the ruling People’s Party (PP). Section 65 of the penal code states that, every MP who decides to abandon the party that brought him/ […]