MCP Opted Stiffer Penalty while PP, UDF Satisfied
The suspension of Blantyre City Central Constituency Legislature, Hon. Themba Mkandawire from participating any Parliamentary and all Committee Meetings for a period of 90 days has received mixed reactions among major political parties represented in the National Assembly.
On Friday, Speaker of National Assembly Richard Msowoya announced a 3 months suspension for hon. Mkandawire following Tuesday assault of a Parliamentary Head of Usher, Jones Sabola.
The legislature manhandled the Usher for refusing to give an extra 2015 Parliament calendar being distributed as the House was suspended for a lunch break.
Though all political parties agree and condemn the unparliamentarily act by hon. Themba, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is categorically opposing the speakers ruling by calling it "Slap on the Wrist" while Peoples Party (PP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) says the 90 days suspension is a deserving one.
“To me that sounds almost a slap on the wrist” reacted Salima North West Legislature Jessie Kabwira, MCP spokesperson who also speaks for the party on matters of women in Parliament.
“We are talking about a relationship of power relations here, between staff and members of parliament. There is a reason why we are called Honorables, what he (Hon. Mkandawire) did is uncalled for and I think we needed to give him a sentence that sends a message that you never do such kind of a thing.”
“As a person from opposition am now worried if I say something which Themba Mkadawire or the ruling party doesn’t like" she said, "What is to stop him? Is 90 days going to stop him from doing what he did?”
“I think he needed a stiffer punishment"
She went on “Themba Mkandawire is not just from any other party, he is from the ruling party so what example are they giving us. Are they telling us that now when a Parliamentary Staff is giving us calendars they should be shaking because there is a ruling party Parliamentarian in this House? And added that the ruling party (Democratic Progressive Party DPP) should come open to make an apology for the embarrassing action done by its member.
Unlike MCP reaction, PP Leader in the House, hon. Uladi Mussa a Salima South Parliamentarian said “Am satisfied with the punishment given” though he said “His conduct is totally out of order and uncalled-for we didn't expect a member of parliament beating a parliamentary worker, this is a savage way of living”
“He was not supposed to beahave as if he is at a beer hall” said Mussa
Balaka North parliamentarian and Leader of UDF, Lucius Banda made similar sentiments of Hon. Mussa “It’s quite unfortunate that an honorable member of parliament could not contain the emotions, I think the most important thing for we politicians need to do is to learn to contain our emotions. Everybody gets angry but to go that far to a person who has lesser power standing in the society I think it will be seen as one is taking advantage of his position to do bad things. So I believe in the interest of sanity and disciplining the speaker’s sentence deserves and I hope it will never happen again”
Hon. Themba Mkandawire's conduct has been condemned by many other parliamentarians whom others have described the assault as "Criminal act"
However, the assaulted Usher was not available to comment on what he makes of Speaker's ruling.
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