UTM MPs to decide on new seating plan
UTM Party legislators have backed their party’s decision to pull out of the governing Tonse Alliance, but said their position on the seating plan in Parliament will be known when the House reconvenes on August 26.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Blantyre City West member of Parliament (MP) Steve Mikaya, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, said they were in support of the decision to leave the alliance.
He said whatever the party decides is what the 13 legislators will follow.
On whether the party has written Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara on the matter, Mikaya said they will make their position known in due course.
“You will be communicated in due course. At the right time we will make our position known,” he said.
In a separate interview yesterday, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda said government presents issues that promote the welfare of Malawians and he does not expect UTM MPs to be against that.
“What drives Parliament’s agenda is what we discuss. Parliament does not discuss evil things about Malawians but good things.
“We have an agenda for the nation and not an agenda for MCP or for a single political party. It is supported by everyone no matter the political colours they wear,” he said.
Leader of Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda said the opposition in Parliament is ready to work with the UTM Party.
He said Malawians are facing a number of challenges, including hunger, forex shortage, drug shortage and there is a need for opposition to represent Malawians in fighting for a better life.
Governance commentator Moses Mkandawire said with UTM Party exiting the alliance, the expectation is that the MPs will be on the opposition side.
However, he said the situation is a complicated one considering that the Vice-President and some Cabinet ministers belong to UTM Party.
UTM Party and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) were the major partners in the Tonse Alliance.
MCP president Lazarus Chakwera paired with UTM Party president Saulos Chilima, who died in a military plane crash in Mzimba on June 10 2024 alongside eight others, in the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election that ousted former president Peter Mutharika.
Chilima and Chakwera, who finished third and second in the 2019 Presidential Election, petitioned the court to nullify the election over irregularities and were granted their wish.
