Parties appoint House leaders

Political parties have finally elected members to lead them in Parliament.

The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has appointed Speaker reject and new Minister of Transport Francis Kasaila as its Leader of House while new Minister of Information Kondwani Nankhumwa is deputy.

New Minister of Labour Henry Mussa has been appointed chief whip and his deputy is new Minister of Sports Grace Chiumia.

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has settled for Lilongwe Central MP Lobin Lowe as chief whip to be deputised by Dedza South MP Clement Mlombwa.

As for the former governing People’s Party (PP), it will be led by Salima South MP Uladi Mussa whose deputy is Mzimba West MP Harry Mkandawire while Mangochi South MP Lilian Patel is chief whip for United Democratic Front (UDF) and she will be deputised by Machinga Central East MP Ernest Yahaya.

In a related development, PP has also appointed MPs mandated to speak on issues concerning former president Joyce Banda and national politics and they include Nkhata Bay North MP Ephraim Mganda Chiume, Mangochi Monkey Bay MP Ralph Jooma and Zomba Changalume MP John Chikalimba.

Mussa said in an interview yesterday his party had also appointed spokespersons on various issues which would be tackled in Parliament, among them: justice, good governance and the Constitution; land and housing; public health and HIV/Aids; local government and public service; sports and youth as well as employment and labour.

Among the spokespersons are newcomers in the House such as Zomba Malosa MP Roy Kachale Banda who will speak on trade, industry and private sector development and Zomba Chingale MP Wallace Chawawa will speak on foreign affairs while Kamlepo Kalua will speak on defence. Nkhata Bay South East MP Noah Chimpeni will speak on energy.

Former vice-president and Mzimba South West MP Khumbo Kachali has been left out and his position in Parliament remains unknown.