The newly-sworn-in 223 members of Parliament (MPs) are today expected to elect new leadership of the National Assembly, with four legislators contesting for the Speaker’s seat.
The four are Sameer Suleman of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Peter Dimba of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Kondwani Nankhumwa and independent legislator George Katunga Million of Phalombe Machemba Constituency.
However, there is controversy on the position of First Deputy Speaker with some MPs in the North accusing DPP of backtracking on an earlier agreement to back their chosen candidate.
Those contesting are Catherine Mzumara of Mzimba North, who is also UTM Party vice-president (North), Emmanuel Chambulanyina Jere of Mzimba South (MCP) and Victor Musowa of Mulanje Bale (DPP).
Esther Jolobala of Machinga East (United Democratic Front) is the sole candidate for the position of Second Deputy Speaker and has since been endorsed by DPP.
In an interview yesterday, former vice-president Khumbo Kachali of Mzimba South West said he was not formally approached by the DPP to change the candidate for the First Deputy Speaker to feature Musowa.
He said: “The DPP came to meet us as a group lobbying for support in these elections and we agreed. They also agreed to support our own, Catherine Mzumara and there has been no change to that.”
Put to him that DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba confirmed Musowa’s candidature for the position, Kachali said Namalomba was not part of the team that approached them.
Said Kachali: “I expect the team that came to meet me and my colleagues to come and pronounce themselves.
“Namalomba was not part of the team that came to meet us. If they had come back to us telling us that they had changed their mind, we would not have pronounced ourselves on the person we are featuring from the North.”
Namalomba did not pick calls yesterday, but on Sunday, Suleman, who was one of DPP members who approached Kachali and others, said DPP asked the group to provide a name of an independent candidate.
He said: “We wanted someone neutral, not attached to a political party because we thought of having someone who can relate with everyone.
“We have heard of the names of Mzumara who is UTM vice-president for the North and Madalitso Chidumu Baloyi, an independent legislator of Mzimba Kafukule, who also approached us. We are waiting to be told of the name so that we present the same to the President for endorsement.”
However, Baloyi said she had withdrawn her interest to contest for the post and acknowledged that the Northern bloc had resolved to support Mzumara.
To attain the Speakership positions, one has to secure a majority of the votes in a first-past-the-post system.
Section 53(1) of the Constitution stipulates that the Speaker of the National Assembly shall be elected by majority vote of the chamber in which s/he sits at the first sitting after any dissolution of that chamber.
Further, the members shall also elect any stipulated number of persons to the positions of deputy speakers. Currently, Parliament has two; First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker.
