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| National |
| 23 independent MPs join UDF |
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by
Gedion Munthali, 01 July 2004
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09:06:51
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A total of 23 independent members of Parliament on Wednesday joined the ruling UDF, dislodging the MCP as a majority party in the House.
Speaker of the National Assembly Rodwell Munyenyembe read out the names of the concerned MPs in the House and asked them to across over the aisle and take up seats on government benches.
They were until then, like other independents, sitting on opposition benches.
The development cut back the number of independents in the House to 10, and increased the UDF representation from 49 to 72, overtaking the MCP which has 59 seats.
The legislators in question are Mwelekete Kalua (Chitipa South), Jones Chingola (Ntcheu Central), Ibrahim Matola (Mangochi North), Alfred Mwechemu (Mangochi North East), Maxwell Milanzi (Mangochi Malombe) Shamil Asibuh (Mangochi South West) Mahamudu Lali (Mangochi Nkungulu), Elizabeth Aipira (Mangochi West).
Others are Moffat Maliseche Yakiti (Mangochi Masongola) Ernest Malenga (Balaka South) Davie Ngulinga (Machinga Likwenu) Wilson Ndomondo (Machinga South East) Roy Alifi Chizimba (Zomba Nsondole) John Chikalimba (Zomba Chingale) Berson Lijenda (Zomba Ntonya) Steven Nthenda (Chiradzulu North) Ettinor Koloviko (Blantyre North).
Also joining UDF are Jimmy Banda (Blantyre City South) Sinalo Mchingula (Mwanza West) Charles Mchacha (Thyolo West) Anna Kachikho (Phalombe North) Stephen Namacha (Mulanje North) and Alfred Gobede (Chikwawa North).
However, Lijenda said in an interview later that his name appeared on the list without his consent.
“I did not consent that my name be included on the list because the things we agreed during the meeting with the UDF national chair (Bakili Muluzi) have not been fulfilled,” said Lijenda.
He said during the meeting he asked for iron sheets for unfinished school blocks, cement and planks for rehabilitation of broken bridges in his constituency.
“I told the chair of ruling party MPs Jafali Mussa in the morning that my name be removed from the list. I was shocked to hear it during the announcements,” said Lijenda. “What I am saying is that the announcement was made without my approval”
Malawi Law Society Treasurer Alick Nyasulu said the MPs have not crossed the floor and therefore cannot lose their seats.
“Which floor have they crossed? You cross the floor if you move from one party represented in Parliament and join another party in the same House. Even the ruling of High Court Judge Anaclet Chipeta does not touch them,” said Nyasulu.
As the Constitution stands at the moment it prevents movement of MPs between parties while the one which was invalidated by the High Court stopped joining of other parties and organisations with political objectives.
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