Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) are demanding for the presence of Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo to be in the chambers and present evidence that the state has indeed withdrawn all charges against Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general Martha Chizuma.
On Tuesday, Mvalo told the house that he would come the following day (on Wednesday) with reports of evidence that the charges against Chizuma have indeed been withdrawn, but yesterday he was in show.
Leader of the house on government side, Richard Chimwendo Banda, said Mvalo failed to show up in the house because he was attending other government affairs in Mchinji where President Lazarus Chakwera and his counterpart Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema presided over the commissioning of Mchinji-Mwami One Stop Border Post (OSBP).
The opposition legislatures are therefore demanding for suspension of the proceedings until Mvalo is ready to present the evidence in the house.
According to leader of the opposition, Kondwani Nankhumwa, Mvalo should be in the house as promised.
In his remarks, Thyolo Central constituency legislature Ben Phiri said the proceedings should continue when the house has been shown the said evidence first.
Responding to the demands by the opposition members, government’s Chief Whip Jacob Hara said the minister in question is currently attending other presidential event at Kamuzu Palace.
Chimwendo Banda has therefore asked the members to exercise patience saying Mvalo will be available to present the evidence of withdrawal of charges against Chizuma when he returns from state house.
Chimwendo Banda then said if Mvalo had a deputy this would have not happened.
Mvalo is attending the swearing in ceremony of High Court judges at Kamuzu Palace.
