MPs, parties strategise on new head of Parliament

About five newly-elected members of Parliament (MPs) have confirmed their desire to contest for the position of Speaker when the House convenes for its first meeting after the May 20 tripartite elections.
The four leading political parties—Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the People’s Party (PP) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) also confirmed separately that they were in talks to identify candidates and garner support for them.
A source in MCP told us that four MPs in the party that include vice-president Richard Msowoya are campaigning for the position.
In separate interviews, the MPs—Msowoya (Karonga Nyungwe), Felix Jumbe (Salima Central), Jessie Kabwila (Salima North West) and Joseph Njobvuyalema (Lilongwe Mapuyu South) —said they will make themselves available for consideration.
Msowoya told the Weekend Nation on Thursday that should the party caucus settle for his name, he will accept the offer to run for the office.
“My interest on its own is not of any consequence. It is my party that has to determine who will be its candidate,” he said in an interview from his base in Karonga.
Jumbe, who is also a member of the national executive committee of the MCP, said in an interview on Thursday he had succumbed to requests from some members of the party to run for the office.
“People have been calling to say I could be an ideal candidate for that office,” he claimed. “They are describing me as the voice of reason.”
Kabwila, who is the publicity secretary of the party, said she was interested to run for the office because she feels she has what it takes to do a good job.
‘If I am considered for the position, it will be the first time in the history of Malawi to have a woman as a head of the parliamentary arm of Government,” she said. “It will send a strong message about the country’s determination to empower women.”
Njobvuyalema, who is the party’s director of elections, said he was also interested in the job because he has the qualities for Speaker.
“I am an experienced parliamentarian. I know the ins and outs of parliamentary practice. I am principled. I have never been a “crosstitute” [meaning a politician who keeps changing political parties],” he said.
Njobvuyalema, however, said his candidature would depend on his party endorsing it.
The DPP said yesterday they were yet to identify their candidates for the position.
“We are still consulting among ourselves and talking to other political leaders and parties,” said DPP publicity secretary Nicholas Dausi in an interview from Mwanza yesterday morning. “We still have time to come up with a meaningful position.”
Kabwila also said her party caucus would convene before the first substantive meeting of the National Assembly to decide on how to proceed on the position of Speaker.
“As you know, we cannot get that position on our own because it is subject to the numbers game. Therefore, we will have to decide on fielding a candidate who will attract the support across the aisle,” she said.
Kabwila declined to discuss whether her party was discussing with other political parties on forming a bloc of support.
PP deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda said yesterday morning the party’s stand on the position of Speaker would be known after a meeting of the party’s Members of Parliament.
“There is a meeting of our Members of Parliament in Lilongwe this afternoon. It is being chaired by our secretary general, Mr. Paul Maulidi. It is will be discussing the very same issues.”
Another source told us that DPP and UDF have settled for Atupele Muluzi to be Speaker as part of a working relationship agreement the two parties have entered into.
But UDF publicity secretary Ken Ndanga dismissed this early in the week, only saying the executive committee of the party was meeting yesterday to form a position.
“I am aware that the president (Atupele Muluzi) is chairing a meeting this afternoon (yesterday) to chart the way forward,” said Ndanga.
No single party will be able to successfully field a candidate for the position of Speaker without courting another party or independent members for support because no party has achieved an outright majority in the just ended tripartite elections.
Independent members got the highest number of seats at 52, DPP got 50, but reduced to 49 after Thyolo East Constituency fell vacant by operation of the law following the swearing-in of Arthur Peter Mutharika as President of the Republic.
MCP has 48 seats, PP has 26, UDF follows with 14 seats, while Aford and Chipani Cha Pfuko have a seat each.
The 191 members of Parliament will be sworn in on Monday next week before they undergo a week long orientation to learn parliamentary procedures and processes.
By-elections will take place in Thyolo East and Blantyre North.
Clerk of Parliament Roosevelt Gondwe could not indicate on Thursday whether the election of the Speaker will take place during the swearing-in ceremony of parliamentarians on Monday or when the House convenes for its first meeting after the orientation.