Parliamentarians Wednesday had peaceful deliberations after three days of drama around the Leader of Opposition saga.
Proceedings started and concluded in a peaceful manner as the House discussed committee reports and other businesses.
Inside the House, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) benches had no single member following a punishment that Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara imposed on the MPs for disrespecting her orders.
Few DPP MPs who were not expelled were seen in the House but they sat with Kondwani Nankhumwa on the opposition benches.
Outside the building, there still was heavy presence of police officers who provided security to prevent the repetition of Tuesday’s scenario where the DPP MPs caused commotion at the premises.
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represent Malawians
As the two-day suspension that the Speaker effected ends today, Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda has appealed to DPP MPs to return to the House in a peaceful manner.
“We have had uninterrupted deliberations. This is how Parliament is supposed to operate. We are here to represent Malawians; therefore, we shouldn’t bring into the House our political party fights.
“As they come back into the House, I implore our colleagues to respect the laws and be mindful that they are here to represent Malawians,” Chimwendo Banda said.
But DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba wondered why the government side is “so obsessed” with matters happening in his party.
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“Let them sort out the Leader of Opposition issue. They have imposed a person on DPP as Leader of Opposition. We are representing Malawians and they can’t tell us what to do; they are MCP and we are DPP,” Namalomba charged.
The genesis of the chaos in the august House is the Leader of Opposition issue where Gotani Hara is recognising Kondwani Nankhumwa, according to a court order, while DPP appointed Mary Navicha and insists she is the rightful person for the seat
