Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice president for the Southern Region Kondwani Nankhumwa, who is also Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, failed to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee in Lilongwe Wednesday.
Nankhumwa’s lawyer Dan Sato confirmed the development in an interview.
According to Sato, Nankhumwa could not appear before the committee because he is immune from any legal proceedings since he is also a Member of Parliament for Mulanje Central Constituency.
He said, since Parliament is in session, the lawmaker cannot appear before the disciplinary committee
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Sato said this is according to Parliamentary Standing Orders.
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“No civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted against any member [of Parliament] as members have freedom from arrest, and no member shall be liable to arrest for any civil debt whilst going to, attending at or returning from a sitting of the Assembly or any committee within the precincts of the Assembly while the Assembly or a committee is sitting,” Sato said
He added that he raised security issues to the disciplinary committee, especially as they wanted the meeting to take place at his fellow Member of Parliament George Chaponda’s house.
“We feel it was not fair for the meeting to take place at Chaponda’s house because he is a national disciplinary committee chairperson and it is not fair for proceedings to take place at his house or property.
“So, we have asked the committee to reschedule the meeting until after the current parliamentary meeting. Nankhumwa is ready to appear at any lawful committee and at any neutral place,” Sato said.
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Secretary for the disciplinary committee Jean Mathanga refused to comment on Nankhumwa’s failure to appear before the committee.
“I don’t speak for the party; you may wish to ask the party spokesperson,” Mathanga said.
DPP spokesperson Shadrick Namalomba was not immediately available for a comment.
According to the committee’s letter, dated July 25 2023 and signed by Mathanga, Nankhumwa was summoned to appear before the committee yesterday for a disciplinary hearing for allegedly contravening the DPP Constitution by holding rallies without seeking consent from party leader Peter Mutharika.
The party alleged that, between July 15 and 25 2023, Nankhumwa conducted rallies in the Southern Region without seeking a go-ahead from the party president.
