UDF denies plot to impeach Speaker: Gets court order on Sec 65
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 in Parliament.
But UDF spokesman Ken Ndanga told Nyasa Times on Saturday that his party has never discussed any plan to impeach the Speaker.
“What the party has done as regards the issue of Section 65 is to obtain a stay order from the court which the Supreme Court granted in Thursday and was served on the Speaker last Friday,” said Ndanga.
The impeachment issue is said to have been discussed at the two caucuses DPP held jointly UDF in Lilongwe this month.
But the UDF spokesman said they are simply questioning the impartiality of the Speaker on the matter of Section 65 after a petition signed by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) MP Jessie Kabwila.
“The petitioner is the publicity secretary if the MCP, a party where the Speaker himself is still serving as its vice president. The way he has been handling the matter so far raises some serious questions about his independence,” said Ndanga.
“At the moment we have decided to pursue this matter through the court and we are fighting this matter as UDF party,” he added.
Leader of Government in the House Francis Kasaila has since warned that the impeachment couldn’t be ruled out “if the Speaker steps on people’s toes”.
He issued a stern warning to the Speaker on his decisions.
“The Speaker should tread carefully in coming up with decisions or rulings on matters pertaining to the National Assembly,” said Kasaila as quoted by Weekend Nation.
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No 12 defends like a good lawyer.If You are then u are the pple that are spoiling this country.We can not have a constitution and deliberately twist it because of dyera.Vindele
At No. 22, please understand this issue from the beginning and re-read our section 65 with open mind. Firstly, the Speaker didn’t allow MPs to do anything, but granted UDF’s request of moving its MPs to government side. They’re two different issues here. The first issue is when the speaker is informed about the members decision of voluntarily leaving party A and joining party B. The speaker moves to implement section 65 when/if party A petition the speaker for its member’s decision to leave it whilst he/she used its (party’s) symbol and manifesto on election. On this scenario, it was… Read more »
Zipitili osati poti zili kumeneko
IMPEACH ATUPELE FOR TAKING SOME OF THE UDF MPS TO THE GOVT SIDE BLINDLY
THIS WILL SHOW US AND THE WORLD THAT DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW IS REALLY AT WORK IN MALAWI
You either respect the constitution or get the chop under any cisrcumsatances, Dyera lanulo mumve nalo madzi basi. The die is cast and it will grind whoever satnds its way to cleanse your ego and self centredness. Bravooooo
UDF kutha ngati ma curtain shaa chairs prophesy coming true
No. 12, if I read you well you are saying that the fact that the Speaker allowed some UDF MPs to move to the government’s side he cannot turn around and say they have crossed the floor. Furthermore by allowing Lucius to stay on the opposition side it is the Speaker who has caused confusion? Is this what you are saying? The Speaker is not a legal advisor of any party. It is up to each party to seek legal opinion on any of its actions. The Speaker cannot stop any party from “crossing” the floor. The question to ask… Read more »
Kodi a Ndanga mazenera mwavalawo ndi a maso?
Udf ua kuba dpp yakuba ndiye nkuphatikizana shaa!!! My 9.3 billion yapita apa
To say the truth Malawi is a failed state. Many things are below standard. Even courts are below standard. Law Society of Malawi has lost direction long time ago. Politicians are just doing things at will. The results of General Elections is supposed to give us a guide. The results provide floor line between the ruling and opposition divisions. It also provide floor lines between various political parties entering the Parliament. Section 65 guard these floor lines in Parliament. Section 65 is supposed to apply whenever these lines are violated. Another thing is that Malawi Parliament is not independent at… Read more »