Malawi opposition snubs Parly

2008-04-28 18:25

Blantyre - Malawi's main opposition parties boycotted the official opening of Parliament on Monday in protest against the speaker's failure to sack former lawmakers who crossed the floor to join the government.

Only six parliamentarians from the 105 opposition deputies attended the ceremonial opening session of Parliament addressed by President Bingu wa Mautharika.

"I would like to call upon all parliamentarians, irrespective of their political orientation, to put the welfare of the people uppermost," Mutharika said.

The opposition wants the speaker to axe close to 60 parliamentarians who crossed the floor to join Mutharika, who could not form a government without poaching opposition and independent deputies.

"The priority of this house is to ensure economic development of this nation," Mutharika said, in reference to the opposition demands to sack the renegade lawmakers.

Mutharika abandoned the United Democratic Front (UDF) party that put him in power and formed his own small party. However, he did not have enough numbers to form a government and had to poach from the opposition and independents.

The two main opposition parties - the Malawi Congress Party and the UDF - control the 193-member parliament with 105 members.

"We have been dancing to their tune ... this time around we are not going to be fooled," said George Mtafu, leader of the opposition in parliament.

Last year, Mutharika curtailed the session of parliament in order to prevent the speaker from sacking the renegade deputies, a move which could lead to the collapse of the government.

Mutharika believes that the opposition wants to impeach him once the speaker sacks the parliamentarians, who include an additional 30 independents.

The opposition has previously called for the impeachment of Mutharika, citing alleged flouting of the constitution and using public funds and resources to garner support for his newly-formed Democratic Progress party.

- AFP