Tembo told to withdraw ‘stupid’ jibe on DPP
Malawi’s Leader of Opposition John Tembo was forced by Speaker of Parliament to withdraw remark that former ruling DPP move to change the national flag was “stupid”.
In 2010, the then DPP-dominated Parliament changed the national flag to red, black and green with a full sun in white to symbolise what authorities then said was unprecedented development.
But parliament on Monday agreed to revert to Malawi’s t independence flag of black, red and green with a red rising sun on the black background.
“What they [DPP] did was not only folly, but it was stupid. No one can just wake up and change history. This is a day we were waiting to change the flag,” said Tembo.
Henry Chimunthu Banda, the Speaker of Parliament, swiftly told the veteran politician to withdraw the “unparliamentarily” jibe directed at the DPP front bench.
Tembo agreed to withdraw his barb.
Earlier Tembo’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Dedza North West MP Alekeni Wodala Menyani said Malawians want an apology from DPP on the change of the flag.
“The change was an insult to Malawians and was the beginning of the road to becoming a semi-failed State,” said Menyani.
“My only plea is to those that cannot afford to change some essential documents, government should allow them to use until expiry,” he said.
