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| National |
| MPs differ with Muluzi |
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by
Pilirani Semu-Banda, 06 August 2004
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16:07:07
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UDF Members of Parliament and their political partners in the Republican Party (RP), Mgode and Aford have said they will align themselves with government’s interests and not necessarily with that of the ruling party when voting on business in the National Assembly, contradicting former president Bakili Muluzi’s recent statement that no government can run with a disgruntled Parliament.
Muluzi, who is also UDF national chairman, said on arrival from a holiday overseas last Sunday, that there cannot be a government led by an independent president and that this is why he made an effort soon after the May 20 elections to bring various political parties like the RP, Mgode and NDA on board because “there is no way you can run a government with a disgruntled Parliament”.
Government chief whip in Parliament Davis Katsonga said on Thursday he will be ensuring that government bills go through when it comes to voting in the august House.
“I cannot predetermine which side UDF MPs will be voting but we’re in Parliament to serve the government and my role will be to ensure that everyone serves government interests,” said Katsonga.
He said most bills originate from government and that before they go to Parliament, cabinet led by Mutharika will be discussing them.
“This means, we will be supporting the President and government,” said Katsonga.
RP MP Steven Malamba said his party is not part of UDF but that it is a government partner and as such it will only support bills that are in the national interest.
“We’re not in Parliament to serve individuals. We won’t support any bad bill that government comes up with to benefit an individual,” said Malamba.
Mgode spokesman Greene Mwamondwe said his party is in an alliance with UDF for government purposes.
“We are dealing with government leadership and so we will be voting for bills that are in government interest and not in the interest of the UDF party,” said Mwamondwe.
Aford spokesman Norman Nyirenda said his party will be voting based on what people want.
“Aford will be voting to serve people’s interest,” said Nyirenda.
Meanwhile, political commentators have advised that the post of chairman in the UDF should be dissolved to avoid further confusion in the party caused by the powers that the party constitution over the State President.
Head of Governance and Democracy at the Centre for Social Research Nixon Khembo said Muluzi is “distorting the UDF structure” by holding the position of party chairman.
“Muluzi imposed himself as chairman to personalise the UDF and this is tyrannical. This is a creation of dictatorship that Africa is trying to get rid of and now things are getting out of hand because there are now two leaders since the President is also a UDF member,” said Khembo.
He said Muluzi has “beheaded the UDF and that this is bearing fruits of confusion”.
Chancellor College political scientist Boniface Dulani said Muluzi’s chairmanship is now backfiring.
“The UDF has to revisit its constitution to ensure that the party chair does not wield a lot of power otherwise things will get more confused and the party will end up destroying itself,” said Dulani.
He said Mutharika cannot be controlled by a party constitution but the Republican Constitution and that as such Muluzi and his UDF will end up hating Mutharika more for not serving the party interest.
Political commentators have accused Muluzi of hitting at President Bingu wa Mutharika and taking sides with party functionaries who are working against the new president.
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