Lilongwe Nyanja member of Parliament (MP) Baba Steven Malondera (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) on Monday questioned the relocation of Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda in the National Assembly.
Raising a Point of Order, the legislator argued that Chaponda was moved from seat number two to number nine which he perceived to be less prominent despite his seniority in the party.
Seat number two was on Monday occupied by Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Mbilizi.
Asked Malondera: “Mr Speaker Sir, is it in order that the ‘Rising Star’ [George Chaponda], who used to occupy seat number two, should be moved to seat number nine?”
But Leader of the House Jappie Mhango dismissed the matter as trivia, saying Parliament had more important business to attend to.
“We have very limited time to dispose of today’s business. We can’t spend this precious time discussing such petty issues. Let me say that we should not be coming into this House intoxicated,” he said.
Mhango’s remark drew an immediate protest from Malondera, who demanded that it be withdrawn.
He argued: “To insinuate that the sitting position is a petty thing is a great misrepresentation of matters.
“Sitting in this House is determined according to seniority. I therefore demand a withdrawal of his assertion that I have come to this House intoxicated.”
In response, Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman distanced his office from the seating arrangement, saying the allocation of seats is the responsibility of political parties.
“The issue of sitting arrangements in Parliament is the responsibility of the political parties. As Speaker, I am simply given the seating plan according to their arrangement,” he said.
Cabinet ministers occupy the front bench on the government side of the House
Malondera argued that seniority among ministers is important, noting that key ministers, such as the Minister of Justice, are often seated close to the Leader of the House to allow for quick consultations during proceedings when necessary.
