By Cathy Maulidi:
Parliament has confirmed the appointment of opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member Mary Mpanga, who is also Phalombe South Member of Parliament (MP), as commissioner of the Parliamentary Service Commission.
Mpanga has replaced Mulanje South West lawmaker George Chaponda following his election as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda moved: “That following a vacancy which has arisen in the Parliamentary Service Commission following the election of Member for Mulanje South West, Honourable Dr George Chaponda, MP, as Leader of Opposition, and pursuant to Section 194D(1)(b) of the Constitution as read with Section 5(2) of the Parliamentary Service Act, this House resolves that member for Phalombe South, Honourable Mary Mpanga, MP, be appointed as a member of [the] Parliamentary Service Commission. I beg to move.”
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The House unanimously approved her appointment, with both sides of the House voting “yes!”
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This is completely different from what happened last week, when the House rejected Zomba Chingale MP Loonie Chijere Phiri, whom the opposition DPP also appointed.
Government MPs rejected the motion to confirm Chijere Phiri, and when opposition MPs requested for a division, government MPs still rejected her, with 75 voting against and 32 in her favour, a move that killed Chijere Phiri’s dream of becoming a commissioner.
Speaking to journalists after being confirmed, Mpanga expressed excitement that the whole Parliament unanimously approved her to be commissioner.
“I’m so happy that the House has unanimously approved me,” she said.
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On his part, Chimwendo Banda congratulated Mpanga, saying it was good that a woman had been incorporated into the commission.
“We needed 50-50 [representation] in the commission and now we have it,” he said of the commission, which is responsible for policy development and administration.
