Opposition Parties Differ on 90 Days Suspension For Blantyre City Central Legislature:

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.

Blantyre City Central Legislature Themba Mkandawire Gets 90 Days Suspension in Parliament

Blantyre City Central Legislature Themba Mkandawire Gets 90 Days Suspension in Parliament

 

 Blantyre City Central Parliamentarian Themba Mkandawire will miss any Parliamentary proceedings and meetings for three months effective this Friday.

The suspension has been announced on Friday 27^th February 2015 by Speaker of National Assembly Hon. Richard Msowoya following pressure from opposition members on Thursday who demanded the speaker to take a decisive action before the House rise sine die.

On Tuesday afternoon, hon Themba Mkandawire punched and headbutted a helpless Head of Usher’s in Parliament Jones Sabola for refusing to give the parliamentarian an extra 2015 Parliament calendar.

The ruling effected this Friday morning restrains the legislature from attending any Parliamentary Service for 90 days, that is will miss all Committee Meetings and will not attend Parliament Meeting if convenes within the period.

Mkandawire has been heavily criticized by his fellow parliamentarians who described the conduct as unparliamentary and others called it “Criminal”

Opposition Parliamentarians Wants Fellow Legislature Punished By Speaker

Opposition Legislature’s Irked by Speaker’s Delay in Punishing Blantyre City Central Temba Mkandawire for Assaulting an Usher

Some of the Members of Opposition in the National Assembly took to task Second Deputy Speaker Hon. Clement Chiwaya over the delay of Speaker’s ‘appropriate action’ towards their fellow honorable member for Blantyre City Central Constituency Themba Mkandawire.

Hon. Mkandawire on Tuesday afternoon immediately the House was suspended for lunch break, assaulted a Parliamentary Usher over a 2015 calendar. The parliamentarian punched and headbutted the Usher, Jones Sabola for refusing to give another calendar.

Lilongwe Mpenu legislature Hon. Leonard Makalangozo expressed worry that as the house expects to rise sine die this Friday, it is apparent that unparliamentarily behavior by hon. Mkandawire will just be let free since the house shall possibly meet in June for another session. He also asked why the speaker is delaying to report to the House what appropriate punishment has been given to Mkandawire.

“As you are aware the matter is being handled by the speaker’s office and the communication shall be made as of what action has been taken.” Said Chiwaya, “So far that decision has not been communicated to us I would therefore like to request that until such decision has been made we proceed with the business.”

The explanation by Second Deputy Speaker did not carry substance to other parliamentarians including Hon. Lingson Belekanyama, a Lilongwe Msinja South parliamentarian who rise on point of order saying “This is a very sad thing which has taken place in this House.” “This is a criminal case!” he added

“This is honorable House, we need to behave exemplary and not come here as boxers fighting in this chamber. And it is very sad to fight, to kick this member off staff…,” he went on “We were supposed to have a committee of inquiry, to inquire on what really transpired for this member of Parliament to punch the member of staff. We cannot condone such behavior in this House…, This is Criminal case!”

“This assault which has taken place in this House needs to be handled with special care, since we are rising tomorrow then we go and wait till sometime in June or July that’s not on, we need this issue be tabled today and tomorrow have a report in this House”

Leader of the House Hon. Francis Kasaila suspended the matter following his call for a meeting with all political party leaders at the speaker’s office immediately the house adjourns to find out what is happening.

Blantyre City-Central Legislature Themba Mkandawire Manhandles An Usher in Parliament Chambers

Blantyre City-Central Legislature Themba Mkandawire Manhandles An Usher in Parliament Chambers 

The National Assembly was on the afternoon of Tuesday turned into a torture camp when an Honorable Member for Blantyre City-Central Constituency, Themba Mkandawire physically manhandled a helpless Head of Usher’s in parliament.

The assault of a man identified as Jones Sabola who began work in 1989 as a Parliamentary Usher (Person responsible in delivering documents and passing quick notes for legislatures inside parliament), followed misunderstanding over distribution of calendars which the Usher together with his colleagues was distributing to members in the House immediately when the House was suspended for a lunch break.

According to eye witness and the victim himself, Hon. Mkandawire was insisting to get two calendars from already allocated one calendar per parliamentarian. Usher’s declined to give Mkandawire another calendar for fear that accepting his demand will deprive other parliamentarians of getting their calendar. 

Unfortunately, Usher’s explanation proved to be futile as Hon Mkandawire launched an attack at Sabola by pulling his necktie and strangled him in the process. The charged parliamentarian then sent several punches in defenseless Sabola’s stomach and headbutted him.

“The combination of the heavy punches and headbutt, sent me down on the floor and I smashed against the chair in the process.” lamented Sabola whose claim was also approved by his several other colleagues who eye witnessed the event.

As I was speaking to the victim who was yet to go to the hospital complained much about headache and stomach pains.

One of the Usher’s said “We respect and treat everyone (members of parliament) with their dignity but we wondered how this parliamentarian mistreated our leader”, and continued “This is the first time in the history of Malawi parliament and we are very unhappy” 

It was an apology and assurance that such a practice was uncalled-for from Leader of House in the National Assembly Hon Francis Lazaro Kasaila on behalf of government that calmed down Parliamentary Usher’s who were about to go on strike. 

When approached to comment over his conduct, Mkandawire neither admitted nor denied to have beaten up the Usher and instead queried on who had told this reporter that he had done what he was being asked about. Before he could get any reply, he angrily walked away towards the exit, murmuring that he was too bored to remain within parliament for the remainder of the afternoon.

Parliament has taken up the matter and Usher’s have been assured of their safety and respect by every legislator.

“We will follow it up and make sure that something of this sought never happens again. The honorable speaker will take up the matter with the concerned member. But as government we have taken note of it we are going to find out what exactly happened and from there we will make sure that our colleague is properly cautioned that, that is not the way we want members to behave in as far as taking care of Parliament staff is concerned.” Said Kasaila

“We value their contribution, without them our work would have been very difficult so it is a very unfortunate incident and regrettable, but let me assure the nation that the appropriate action will be taken and this incident will not happen again” said Kasaila who explained that the disciplinary action will be handled by the Speaker. 

He added that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which Mkandawire belongs to, will also take its appropriate measure on his misconduct, “As government we are concerned and we are going to take it up” 

Kabwira

When the house convened after short suspension for a tea break Honorable member for Salima North West Jessie Kabwira took the matter into the chamber. While condemning the act, Kabwira asked the House to assure Usher’s of their protection as they carry out duties inside the chamber.

But Leader of House hon. Kasaila repeated that government was serious about the incident and will not condone the behavior of the member and appropriate measure will be taken.

Later, Hon. Vitus Dzoole Mwale a Lilongwe Msozi South legislator said “This is a very serious issue, as honorable house can the name of this member be announced here for people in his constituency to know what he is doing here?”

However, guidance from the First Deputy Speaker Hon. Esther Mcheka Chilenje and the Leader of house blocked continuation of the issue when the explanation was made that the Speaker of National Assembly is handling the matter.


(Munthu Wakuda Leo contributed part of the information in this story)