Tempers flare in Parliament over nepotistic remarks
Tempers flared in Parliament Friday over alleged nepotistic remarks by Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu West, Alex Major.
Major is accused of having referred to a section of MPs in the House as Lhomwe, Chewa and Tumbuka, contrary to standing orders.
He made the alleged remarks when he was contributing to the request by MP for Blantyre Bangwe Davie Kadzinja for government to formulate a bill that would look into issues of tribalism and regionalism, which in his view are retarding development in the country.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu said government does not have any plans to formulate such kind of bill and referred the member to Malawi Law Commission.
But chaos erupted when Major stood up and challenged Tembenu whether it occurred to him that Kadzinja might have done an investigation on the same.
“I was looking at the front sit of the benches here…all these benches are tribalistic, if you look at the government side, you will find that there are a lot of Lhomwes, if you come to the MCP side you would see that there are lot of Chewas while the PP [People’s side] there are Tumbukas,” he said
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Esther MchekaChilenje had a tough time to put out the fire as a lot of MPs stood on point of order, condemning the remarks.
Chilenje ordered the withdraw of the statement.
But Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development Joseph Mwanamvekha demanded that the lawmaker should not only withdraw the statement, but further be disciplined.
“The matter is quite serious and it cannot just be ruled out of order, as you are aware that throughout the deliberations people out there are listening. We need a more serious punishment because these are the elements that will create divisions in the country,” he said
Deputy Chief Whip for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Clement Mlombwa distanced the party from the remarks and said MCP is an all-inclusive party.
“The party regrets the remarks both made by Kasungu West and Minister of Agriculture. We would like to distance ourselves from such remarks. Those remarks should be taken as the views of the member alone not MCP,” he said
Mcheka Chilenje has since ordered the Privileges Committee of the house to look into the matter.
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