Age cap Bill stirs fracas in Parliament

What started as a verbal exchange within the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) benches in Parliament yesterday escalated into a physical battle as legislators tussled over the proposed age cap Bill for elected offices.

Blantyre City South East lawmaker Sameer Suleman and his Zomba Chisi counterpart Mark Botomani, both affiliated to DPP, tussled over reports that Chitipa South MP Welani Chilenga, who recently announced his resignation from DPP, was planning to move a motion on presidential age limit.

The Bill seeks to prescribe a maximum age limit for persons seeking nomination into the Office of the President, First Vice- President and/or Second Vice-President as well as a member of Parliament (MP) by amending Section 80 (6)(b) for the Presidency and Section 51(1) for MPs in the Constitution.

Second Deputy Speaker Aisha Mambo Adams was forced to suspend proceedings for 20 minutes following a physical altercation between Botomani and Suleman.

It all started while Nsanje Central MP Kafandikhale Mandevana was presenting a delegation report on the essentials of a management training that some legislators attended in South Africa.

Commenting on the issue, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said the DPP feels the Bill is targeting an individual and it will not support it.

He said the incident came about as Botomani intervened when Suleman wanted to engage Chilenga on the matter.

“This is an emotive matter, as DPP we are not happy that it escalated to that level. Our plea is that at least those members who were fired from our party must be moved elsewhere and not sit close to us,” said Namalomba.

Adams has since slapped Suleman with a full meeting suspension while Botoman has been given a two-day suspension.

Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda described the incident as shameful and urged the DPP leadership to put its house in order.

“We are leaders and we are supposed to be exemplary, we came here to represent the people not fighting,” he said.