Nankhumwa, 3 others grilled

A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) disciplinary committee yesterday interrogated the party’s former vice-president (South) Kondwani Nankhumwa and other senior officials for leading a national governing council (NGC) meeting without the party’s president blessing.

Nankhumwa was summoned to a disciplinary hearing alongside former secretary general Grezelda Jeffrey, former director of women’s affairs Cecelia Chazama and Zomba Chisi parliamentarian Mark Botomani, but Jeffrey did not show up.

The hearing, held at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe, was chaired by the DPP’s Jean Kalirani, other members were Paul Gadama, Charles Mhango, Lonnie Chijere Phiri and Apostle Timothy Khoviwa. The panel camped at the hotel from morning until evening, as they interrogated the three one by one.

First to appear at 10am was Botomani, followed by Chazama scheduled for 2pm but she arrived at 2.14 pm, looking very calm and dressed in a navy blue suit.

Jeffrey, who was scheduled to meet the panel at 3pm, did not show up.

Nankhumwa, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, was the last to be heard from 4pm.

He arrived at 3.55pm, in a black trouser and a brown top, and spent about two hours and 19 minutes with the committee.

However, all the three refused to comment on what transpired in the hearing, with Chazama saying briefly: “I am ready for any decision which the committee will make.”

Similarly, after the sessions, the disciplinary committee members did utter not a word.

It is not known when the outcome of the hearing will be announced, as Mhango simply dismissed members of the press that had camped at the venue since morning, declaring that the committee would not be granting any interviews.

The DPP summoned Chazama who chaired the December 6 NGC meeting, Jeffrey, Nankhumwa and DPP Zomba Chisi parliamentarian Mark Botomani for attending an NGC meeting, held at the same Golden Peacock Hotel, which the party stated that it undermined the party’s leadership contrary to Article 6 (v,vii and ix) of the DPP constitution.

Jeffrey on the other hand, was accused of calling for and convening the meeting without the authority or knowledge of the DPP central committee and without consultation with or the authority of the party president Peter Mutharika.

The disciplinary letters, signed by secretary of the disciplinary committee Lonnie Phiri, stated that the complaint came from deputy secretary general Aaron Sangala. It further warned against absconding.

Article 6 (v) of the DPP constitution states that each member of the party shall obey and carry out all lawful instructions given by a senior member of the party to whom he reports in the performance of his functions in the party or to whom he is otherwise answerable by reason of rank.