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| National |
| UDF intensifies fight for independent MPs |
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by
George Ntonya, 11 June 2004
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16:14:34
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United Democratic Front (UDF) will have to part with huge sums of money to get the support of independent MPs in the House, random interviews at the Parliament building showed this week.
As newly-elected members of Parliament left for their homes Thursday after being sworn in and a two-day orientation, there were indications that some independent MPs would support the government side during the election of a Speaker and two deputies if well rewarded.
“I spent a lot of money to get voted as an independent MP. The UDF tried to campaign against me, so I can only support it during the voting time if it reimburses whatever I spent,” said an MP who refused to be identified.
Independent MP for Blantyre South Jimmy Banda, who defeated Elywin Maluwa of UDF in the June 20 election, was not sure about his position.
“It’s too early for me to tell you which side I will support. I have not made up my mind,” he said yesterday. He was a member of the ruling party but fell out with it after he declared himself an independent candidate.
“Some of our colleagues are showing signs that they can go back to UDF now that they have been sworn in. But they are just waiting for the party to give them money,” said another independent MP, who claimed he would work with MPs from opposition parties to play a watchdog role.
“We’ll not be surprised to see them supporting the ruling party. I think all they want is money,” he said.
Blantyre North MP Ettinor Koloviko, who won on an independent ticket after she felt cheated by UDF during primary election, declared soon after the election that she had decided to go back to the ruling party.
Anna Kachikho from Phalombe North constituency, who also won as an independent candidate after falling out with UDF, told a daily a few days ago that she would support the government side in Parliament.
There are 38 independent MPs while UDF has 49.
An independent MP told Weekend Nation on Thursday that about 24 independent MPs met on Thursday and agreed to work with the opposition parties. But the MPs said some of the people in the group were not too sure if all of them would maintain the stand they had taken.
“We have taken a stand to remain independent and work with the opposition but some MPs can betray us,” he said.
“I came here as an independent candidate. I’ll remain independent,” he said.
A source said a former cabinet minister was approaching independent MPs this week with forms for them to fill in as acceptance that they would work with UDF.
“I don’t think there are MPs who have signed that form,” he said adding that the former minister told them there was going to be a financial reward for those who signed the form.
Other sources said UDF national chairman Bakili Muluzi also met some independent MPs on Thursday morning at his BCA Hill house, to ask them to support the party in Parliament.
The UDF has been shopping for support in the last three weeks since Mutharika was sworn in as President. Political analysts have said that Mutharika will find it tough to rule if he does not go for a government of national unity.
So far UDF has managed to get on board RP and Mgode who have agreed to take a common stand on anti-corruption and support the election of a UDF Speaker.
The alliance has propped up UDF to a total of 66 seats which is still below 71 seats which MCP, NDA, PPM and Petra have.
The MOU has promised a total of three full ministerial positions and two deputy ministerial positions to both RP and Mgode.
The UDF/RP/Mgode agreement, however, has raised fears in Aford who this week said that the position of second veep president is not negotiable.
The party, which was reacting to Chakuamba's statement last week that Chihana will not get it, said the agreement between UDF and Aford clearly stated that Chihana will get the position.
On Friday Aford secretary general Wallace Chiume, whose party emerged from the May 20 elections much weaker with only six seats in Parliament from 16, said they will challenge any legal provision stopping that.
“We have no reason to expect the contrary because the agreement we signed is intact and our counterparts [UDF] have not told us anything otherwise,” Chiume said.
Section 5(1) of the Presidents Salaries and Benefits Act says: “The pension, other benefits and facilities conferred by this Act on a former president or former vice president, shall not be paid or enjoyed and shall not accrue during any period the former president or vice president, as the case maybe, is in receipt of a salary from government or other state bodies.”
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