Four more MPs on Monday returned to DPP benches from the government side as the deadline for the Speaker to apply Section 65 of the Constitution drew close.
Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda gave seven days effective June 8 2012 to MPs who had crossed the floor to defend themselves and the deadline elapsed by end of business on Monday.
However, soon after the House resumed sitting on Monday afternoon, Chimunthu Banda announced that DPP has written him withdrawing the petition against three MPs who had voluntarily gone back to the party whereas another MP wrote the Speaker also notifying him that he has gone to his former party.
According to the letter signed by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader in the House Dr George Chaponda, the concerned MPs are Herbert Bimphi (Ntchisi North), Fredrick Kamwangala (Lilongwe North West) and Geoffrey Mbuzi (Ntchisi North East).
The other MP, George Namatumbo of Chiradzulu West, wrote the Speaker on his own informing him that he has rejoined his former party, DPP.
Chimunthu Banda said in his letter that Chaponda had asked the Speaker to reallocate seats for the three in the opposition benches and the same request is contained in Namatumbo’s letter.
The four bring the number of MPs who have rejoined DPP from the government side led by People’s Party (PP) to five after Kasungu West’s Otria Moyo Jere also wrote the Speaker last week on Thursday.
Two more MPs, Chitipa Wenya’s Godfrey Mudulansi Mukhondya and Mzimba Luwerezi’s Dr Bofomo Nyirenda, also wrote the Speaker last week only to withdraw their request—saying they have decided to remain on the government side.
