Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Spokesperson and Mangochi South West MP Shadreck Namalomba has disclosed that he wants Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa to start consulting the party leader president Peter Mutharika before making decisions in Parliament.
Namalomba said he has obtained a court order against Nankhumwa because what the Leader of Opposition is doing is not right and the party leadership is being sidelined a thing which is not on.
The injunction stops Nankhumwa’s recent appointment of a shadow cabinet and DPP spokespersons in the House without the party’s approval. The order is also staying a decision by the Leader of Opposition to change the sitting plan that moved Namalomba to seat number 100 from seat number 25.
“Basically what I want from the Leader of Opposition is to respect the President of the party, to consult him and the party whenever he is making a decision. As a leader, he should at least consult the party for approval. I am not against his leadership but he should respect the party and also the President of the party and this is simple,” said Namalomba.
On Nankhumwa’s decision to change his seat, Namalomba said he does not want to sit at the back because he cannot see well from afar.
“With my eyesight problem it’s difficult and this is not the right thing. I feel I am being tortured by the Leader of Opposition, I feel that my rights are being infringed,” said Namalomba.
On Thursday morning, Namalomba was back to his seat number 25 but Nankhumwa stood in the House reminding the Speaker of the letter he sent to her office changing the sitting plan.
The Speaker then ordered that the sitting plan be maintained saying her office hasn’t been served with the court order yet. She ordered Namalomba to relocate to his new allocated seat.
But Namalomba insisted that he has obtained a court order which is allowing him to return to seat number 25.
He alleged that Nankhumwa is torturing him because he used his powers as Public Accounts Committee Chairperson to order him (Nankhumwa) to return the money he pocketed as COVID-19 allowances.
But the Speaker said the Court is aware of the procedure to be followed to serve the House with the order and without the order, the House will maintain the sitting plan and this made Namalomba relocate to his new back seat.
