UDF MPs face Section 65 whip, seek court redress after Harry Mkandawire petitions Speaker

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 of the Constitution.

UDF has 11 MPs seated on the government side, increasing DPP’s numerical strength in the 193-member National Assembly to 63.

Mkandawire in a petition asks Speaker to “immediately declare their respective constituencies vacant.”

Msowoya wants the UDF MPs to defend themselves within seven days before he makes his declaration on the matter.

But  the legislators are challenging Mkandawire’s petition at the High Court in Blantyre .

Lawyer Gabriel Chembezi said he applied for an injunction to restrain the Speaker from removing the UDF lawmakers from the committee as well as from declaring their seats vacant.

He said Judge Esmie Chombo is handling the matter but asked to consolidate it with  a case involving human rights activist Billy Mayaya who also  petitioned the Speaker asking him to guarantee “orderliness and decorum” in the House by declaring vacant the seats of the 11 MPs .

The MPs not affected by the move are Balaka North legislator and the party’s former leader in the House Lucius Banda, party president Atupele Muluzi as well as Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament Clement Chiwaya.

UDF moved to government benches to cement its working relationship with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) whose leader, Mutharika, roped into his Cabinet Muluzi.