Justice will not be served in Kalinde-Sangala saga -opposition
Main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) have raised fears that justice will not be served in the House inquiry involving a scuffle between Internal Affairs and National Defence Minister Aaron Sangala and Thyolo North MP Anita Kalinde.
The Business Committee of Parliament meeting on Wednesday November 30 resolved to form an adhoc committee to probe the matter and present its findings by Monday next week.
But MCP and UDF said they will not be party to the committee because it was “not proportional” as has five members from the ruling DPP and three from the opposition benches.
The Business Committee is reported to have watched the video clip of the scuffle where Kalinde attacked Sangala, tearing his shirt.
This was after the Minister made references to a deceased businessman Marshall Dukes, saying Kalinde had been married to a man who was involved in hawking private body parts .
Kalinde waited until the Speaker had adjourned the house for tea break and attacked Sangala. She tore his shirt and left him shaking until other MPs rescued the Minister.
Sangala said he stood to what he had said, noting the issue was “in public domain.”
Meanwhile, Blantyre Rural East MP Henry Duncan Phoya (HDP) told the House that the Speaker of Parliament had the duty to bring order in the chamber.
Phoya said the Speaker has powers to suspend a member for gross indispline, quashing the recommendation by the leader of the House George Chaponda that the whole house debate the issue.
He said referring the matter to the whole House without The Speaker’s determination on the matter “is like subjecting the matter to mob justice; for the act that happened in the house like provocation, undue force or language,” he said.
Phoya asked the Speaker: “Have you solved the matter?”
Speaker said the incident happened outside parliament because it was during a tea break.
