Delays with leader of opposition case worried Chaponda and commentators
Three weeks has gone waiting for court’s determination on eligibility of leader of opposition in Parliament between Kondwani Nankhumwa and Dr. George Chaponda over the injunction that was obtained in 2022 by some officials from Democratic Progressive Party(DPP) that was led by Nankhumwa.
Sighting the dismissal of Nankhumwa from the party, there have been misunderstanding between law makers for Democratic progressive Party(DPP) nd the Speaker of Parliament, Catherine Gotani Hara recognizes Nankhumwa as leader of opposition whilst waiting for court’s determination over the matter.
But standing order 35 of Parliament states that an opposition political parth with majority number of legislators in Parliament must be a leader of opposition. But Dr. Chaponda was endorsed by DPP’s president, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, as leader of opposition in 2024 August house as he was denied by the Speaker of Parliament to resolve the issue at hand.
Chaponda made an effort through Justice Simeon Mdedza to vacate the injunction after being denied to take his roles as leader of opposition in Parliament as endorsed by the party.
The issue brought mixed views and reactions as Public Affairs Committe (PAC) Spokesperson, Bishop Clifford Matonga said many Malawians are eager to know the outcome of the issue and it is up to Parliamentarians to speed up the processes through the court’s proceedings.
Matonga has further advised all the concerned parties to spearhead the resolution as the court has the final say over the issue.
“It is our hope and desire for the vacation of injuction to tally according to the rule of law, but leaving leaving the injunction as it is in court will put the whole scenario in an awkward position with due respect to arms of government, ” said Matonga.
On his part, Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), National Coordinator, Kelvin Chirwa has called upon all the concerned partie to adhere to democratic principles. It is with respect for the authority of parties to appoint leaders whilst recognizing the importance of obeying the court orders.
Chirwa stated that, “there is a need to resolve and respect the legal processes to uphold parliamentary integrity and promote political stability and democratic governance because the current stand off threatens the ability of our opposition to provide the much needed checks and balances on executive. ”
But this has also prompted the Catholic Bishops to present their concerns through a pastoral letter released on 25 February 2024 that condemed the judiciary to abandon it’s integrity as it has embedded itself to corruption and partisanship .
On a notion, the pastoral letter reads, “they take years to hear a case, yet the judiciary does nothing to discipline them, instead they are awarded with promotion. We believe that the ministry of justice is frusting efforts made by the Malawi law society to put in place a law that regulates the judges as th law deserves our support because a solid legal systm is the back bone of any country that wants to eliminate corruption. ”
However, this made DPP’s side to appoint Mary Navicha as leader of opposition in Parliament whilst aiting for the court’s rulling.
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