Exit Chaponda, enter Navicha
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday rescinded its appointment of Mulanje South West legislator George Chaponda as Leader of Opposition in Parliament and replaced him with Thyolo Thava lawmaker Mary Thom Navicha.
Navicha, who is on the brink of becoming the first woman to fit in the shoes, will replace Mulanje Central member of Parliament (MP) Kondwani Nankhumwa who was expelled from DPP alongside 10 others for allegedly undermining the party’s leadership.
However, Nankhumwa technically remains the Leader of Opposition in Parliament backed by a 2022 court order safeguarding his tenure. The legal technicality on Wednesday left Chaponda barred from a Business Committee meeting at Parliament Building in Lilongwe where Nankhumwa was recognised as the bonafide leader.
Malawi Parliament spokesperson Ian Mwenye yesterday confirmed DPP’s submission, saying the Speaker is consulting on the way forward.
He said: “Parliament has received that communication [from DPP]. Obviously, we will have to consult and we will let you know on how we proceed.”
Nankhumwa’s lawyer Wapona Kita said yesterday they were yet to be briefed on the new development and will act depending on how the communication will be made.
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba last evening said he will not comment on the matter.
But a highly-placed source in DPP said Navicha was appointed to be a caretaker of the position.
Said the source: “No one from the party will say anything until the Speaker confirms her. It is a very awkward situation because every time the party submits a name it is rejected at Parliament, so it’s a tricky situation.
“The Speaker needs to come out clearly on what will happen as Parliament convenes.”
Apart from being an MP, Navicha has served in various capacities in parliamentary committees and during Peter Mutharika’s administration was minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare.
Meanwhile, United Democratic Front leader Lilian Patel pledged to support Navicha.
She said: “It is a landmark decision, we have never had had a lady as Leader of Opposition, and now that the DPP has elected Honourable Navicha, I welcome it.”
Patel said women can do whatever men can do, so she expects Navicha to surpass expectations.
“I wish her all the best and will give her all the support that I can because given a chance, a woman can do better, even more than a man. I wish her all the best,” she said.
Navicha could not be reached last evening for comment.
Meanwhile, new DPP chief whip Jappie Mhango has said he will not allocate Nankhumwa a seat on the opposition side.
He said: “As whip, I am responsible for allocating seats in Parliament, and I will not do that for Nankhumwa. He is not a member of our party and cannot lead us, it won’t happen.”
Traditionally, the Leader of the Opposition sits on the third seat in the front row, directly opposite his government counterpart, the Leader of the House.
The battle to have Nankhumwa replaced started in 2020 when DPP wrote Parliament to replace him with the then Nsanje Central legislator Francis Katsaila. However, Nankhumwa obtained an injunction against his removal.
Later, on June 26 2022 in Mangochi, DPP officials elected Chaponda to replace Nankhumwa, but 22 party legislators obtained an injunction restraining Chaponda from acting in that capacity.
When DPP was in power, Nankhumwa also replaced Chaponda as Leader of the House and later became the party’s vice-president for the South during a convention where then incumbent, Chaponda, withdrew from the race.
Standing Order 35 (1) of the National Assembly states that the Leader of Opposition shall be elected by the party not in government, having the greatest numerical strength in Parliament.
Cracks in DPP came to light after the party’s secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey in August 2020 told The Nation that Mutharika had done his part and that the party needed a new person to lead it into the future, calling for an early convention.
