Namalomba dares critics on PAC role
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament chairperson Shadric Namalomba has dared those plotting his impeachment from the post to stop targetting him
personally, but instead fault the parliamentary system that allows doubling of roles.
He expressed the sentiments in an interview yesterday following revelations of a plot to impeach him as PAC chairperson for alleged compromise following his recent appointment as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson.
The Mangochi South West legisl a tor said his case is not unique as there were several members of Parliament (MPs), including Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, who serve as leaders in Parliament besides holding substantive positions in their respective political parties.
He said: “In the first place, the Speaker herself is a deputy secretary general for Malawi
Congress Party [MCP]. If doubling compromises our [MPs’] execution of duties as leaders, then we need to create an enabling legal framework that will stop this.”
Namalomba has come in the limelight in the past two weeks following the maiden statement he issued in his capacity as DPP spokesperson in which he faulted the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the manner it handled investigations against DPP leader and the country’s former president Peter Mutharika.
He said the graft-busting agency was harassing and politically persecuting Mutharika.
Two week sago , Human Rights Defenders Coalition also called for his resignation over the ACB statement, saying he was compromised by being a PAC chairperson and party spokesperson.
On whether he regrets making the statement, the PAC chairperson said he issued the statement on behalf of the party and he still believes in the statement.
Namalomba said
“Asking the ACB to function independently and objectively is not an offence. This is a public body that should b e w i l l i n g t o t a ke criticism. Criticism isn’t interference.”
He claimed that he is aware of plans to impeach him from the position of PAC chairperson. He said it was unfortunate that people have taken it personal.
D e t a i l s o f t h e proposed impeachment of Namalomba were corroborated by two legislators, including one who is a member of PAC who said the general membership was against the plot.
Said the member: “Honourable Namalomba has been a very vibrant chairperson of PAC and under his leadership, PAC has been very effective in providing oversight and checks and balances. It will be a huge loss to lose him because of mere politicking.”
Three weeks ago, PAC asked the Office of the President and Cabinet to investigate the sale of the presidential jet in 2013 during the administration of Joyce Banda.
