UDF can join DPP on govt benches: Attorney General advises Malawi Speaker

United Democratic Front (UDF) members of Parliament (MPs) can join their Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) counterparts on the government benches in Parliament, Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale has advised Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya .

Lilian Patel: The move was agreed at UDF caucuses
Lilian Patel: The move was agreed at UDF caucuses

UDF whose leader Atupele Muluzi drafted in President Peter Mutharika’s Cabinet as Minister of Energy, Natural Resources and Mining, requested the Speaker to relocate its 14 MPs to government benches to reflect the governing pact.

Kaphale confirmed providing the legal opinion to the Speaker on UDF’s request that will not be contravening any law which means UDF MPs would be required to move to the government benches when Parliament meeting resumes in May for the 2015/16 budget deliberations.

UDF chief whip in Parliament Lilian Patel said the move to relocate to government benches was agreed by the party during “ caucuses”.

Constitutional law expert Edge Kanyongolo, who is an associate professor of law at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College, argued that there is no defection in the relocation as Section 65 did not refer to the physical movement of MPs in the House, but the act of leaving one political party to join another or an organisation whose objectives are political in nature.

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Kenkkk
Kenkkk
9 years ago

There is really no need for udf mps to physically move to the govt benches. They can still support the govt from where they are sitting now. We want real opposition even within coalition just like the UK liberal dem party. They don’t mince words when it comes to sticking to their own policies. They even destroy the conservatives govt policies or make them change abit. But I can’t see udf doing the same as it has become a dpp puppet party!! My advice to MCP is please start strategising to counter- act this udf- dpp coalition as we may… Read more »

thunduwike
9 years ago

Koma a chawa yaaaaaah

manja lende
manja lende
9 years ago

asiyeni ateli basi

PAPAYA
PAPAYA
9 years ago

Yaos n lomwes don’t know even they think they know. BT we know them no matter what you say about us, we r original maravi Malawian.

Kwitanda
9 years ago

Anena anena basi!

zagwazatha
zagwazatha
9 years ago

Ndi autsirudi ayaowa nchifukwa chake basi usodzi udzawapha bukhu salidziwa iyayi. Kkkk

mtichimwitsa
mtichimwitsa
9 years ago

Chipani chatha fufuzani kolowera a chawa nanga kumangolondola nzauchitsiru zomwe?

kd
kd
9 years ago

we just have to scrap off section65 in our stupid constitution …..

HILL
HILL
9 years ago

Time is the master

M'Malawi weniweni
M'Malawi weniweni
9 years ago

Akulu saadaname kuti nthanga kunena adathawitsa likongwe wa apongozi. Siizi UDF yatha ngat makatani

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