By Cathy Maulidi:
Five UTM Party members of Parliament (MPs) have announced their decision to relocate to the opposition benches, effective immediately.
Leader of UTM members in Parliament Chrissie Kanyasho confirmed penning Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, notifying her of their decision.
“The letter you have seen is, indeed, going to the Speaker of Parliament. She should get it when she gets into the office tomorrow (Friday),” Kanyasho said.
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In the letter, the lawmakers—including Kanyasho, Steve Mikaya (Blantyre West), Simon Salambula (Ntcheu West), Felix Katwafu Kayira (Karonga North West), and Chrispin Mphande (Nkhata Bay West)—have experienced their wish to relocate to the opposition benches.
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The notification, which Kanyasho has signed, has been directly addressed to the Speaker of Parliament and has not provided reasons for the switch.
However, Kanyasho told The Daily Times that they are relocating to the opposition bench following the decision by the party to dump the Tonse Alliance.
“We are no longer working with the government and, so, why should we sit on the government bench? Our party left the alliance, automatically leaving the government side, and this is what has necessitated our decision,” Kanyasho added.
She added that other MPs who won on an independent ticket but later joined UTM have also expressed interest in leaving the government bench.
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There are eight MPs who joined UTM after winning as independent members.
The Daily Times can, however, report that some of the MPs have signed to leave the government bench while others have remained stuck with the government.
One of the MPs who have refused to leave is Zomba Changalume MP Biswick Million.
He told The Daily Times that he would not leave the government bench because his constituents have not told him to.
“Constituents have not told me to move out and, so, I am not leaving the government bench because our late President died while in the alliance. He did not leave the alliance until his death,” Million said.
But Kanyasho has told those who do not want to play ball to return party vehicles they got.
“They should return the vehicles. Why should they be keeping party vehicles when they are no longer working with the party? You can’t keep a party vehicle and be working with another party. They should return the vehicles if they wish to remain in the government and the alliance,” Kanyasho said.
The UTM MPs’ decision to join the opposition benches is coming months after the party announced its departure from the alliance, days after they lost their leader Saulos Chilima in a plane crash.
Chilima and eight others died in a plane crash in Chikangawa Forest on June 10 this year.
Already, two UTM ministers Agnes Nyalonje and Vera Kamtukule, plus deputy minister Nancy Mdooko, remain in the government.
