MP withdraws anti-govt remarks

Lilongwe Msozi South member of Parliament (MP) Vitus Dzoole Mwale (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) on Friday withdrew his earlier accusations that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) involved in theft of public funds and killed an opposition legislator last year.

Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya ordered Dzoole Mwale to withdraw accusations he had made on Tuesday, alleging the DPP-led government officials steal public money and that they had killed Mchinji West legislator Billy Kanjira Banda (MCP) last year to concel evidence of abuse.

Dzoole Mwale’s accusations on Tuesday had stunned fellow MPs the more when he proceeded to give a pile of papers—there and then in the Parliament chamber—as the claimed evidence proving his accusations.

But in his ruling on the matter, the Speaker, who had earlier been prompted by Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Cecilia Chazama to rule on the issue after it was put on hold since Tuesday,  began by punching holes in Dzoole Mwale’s purported ‘evidence’.

Msowoya said after examining the tendered documents, he found Dzoole Mwale wanting on the claim that “the DDP-led government has been siphoning money” and manipulated a cover-up. He added that the legislator had submitted a photocopy of the July 2-8 2016 Malawi News edition.

Said the Speaker: “As I went through the findings, I have not co me across any name of any honourable member of this House being alleged to have siphoned government funds…”

In summing up, the Speaker noted that Dzoole Mwale had not tendered any evidence on his allegation concerning the alleged killing of Kanjira Banda by “these people”.

He said: “I, therefore, rule the honourable member out of order and whatever he said should not form part of The Hansard [the official record of proceedings in Parliament] records that were probably already captured that time.

“Certainly, that should be struck off and, furthermore, he should immediately withdraw those unfortunate remarks. I, therefore, will proceed to ask the honourable member to withdraw those unfortunate remarks himself.”

Dzoole Mwale then owned up after trying to talk down interjections of “shame!” and “m’mapemphera inu? [are you a prayerful person?]” from legislators on the government side.

He said: “Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for your guidance. I do withdraw. Thank you.” n