Tag Archives: Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya

Politics, Top News

“Chilima, Salima North West constituency owe you victorious presidential vote’-MP Kabwila

Maravi Post Reporter

 

 

 

Kabwila in UTM party regalia

 

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-The outspoken Member of Parliament (MP) for Salima North West Constituency Dr Jessie Kabwila on Saturday assured UTM party leader Saulos Chilima of a victorious presidential vote, come May 21 elections.

The lawmaker Kabwila hinted that its only Chilima and UTM party that can bail out Malawians completely from social-economic ills encountering.

She was speaking after officially unveiled as UTM party parliamentary candidate for the constituency in the forthcoming elections at Matenje school ground, Traditional Authority (T.A) Nkhomedza in the district.

Chilima and UTM party leadership  graced the rally

Kabwila recently ditched opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) where she was once the party’s publicity secretary to join UTM where she won the last week’s primaries unopposed.

Speaking with her unmistakable charisma, Kabwila said she felt home being at UTM and pledged to help the party take over the next government.

“People know me as ‘the machine’ here because of the hard work for my people. I am still ‘the machine’ and I will never get intimidated. I will remain the machine. People here are always against anyone who is against Jessie.

“Mr President your message is the hope to the Malawian people. You’ve shown that you are development conscious, and are willing to support anyone who is willing to share your dreams of transforming this nation. Therefore, my constituency is ready to give you a victorious presidential vote,” Kabwilabragged amid shouts of agreement.

Speaking earlier, Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya, described Kabwila as one of the legislators in the House that contribute to intelligent debate.

Msowoya, who was also MCP, asked the people of Salima to support Chilima like other regions.

“Actually, parliament would be lukewarm without her. For example, people from the whole northern region have already rallied behind UTM,” said Msowoya.

 

Malawi, Top News

Shame! Blackout forces Malawi Parliament into early adjournment

Maravi Post Reporter
Blackout forces Parliament into early adjournment

OUT OF DARKNESS—MPs walk out of Parliament after the adjournment

Parliament Monday adjourned early after loss of power in the chamber made it difficult for members of Parliament (MPs) to continue with their deliberations.

The blackout occurred 15 minutes after tea-break and the MPs were in the dark for eight minutes before Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya, announced the adjournment.

According to The Daily Times, the incident happened at a time Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Samuel Tembenu, was giving an update on the progress of the review of the Witchcraft Act.

The minister was giving the update during a debate on a statement Minister of Homeland Security, Nicholas Dausi, had delivered in the House on the state of disaster preparedness and response for the 2018/19 season.

Dausi had just told the House that, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs had just received a report of a fire accident in the area of Traditional Authority Mwansambo in Nkhotakota District that destroyed houses.

“What is disheartening about the fire accident is that the fire was started by community members on allegation that the owners of the houses were practising witchcraft. A total of 31 households had their houses and property destroyed by the fire,” Dausi said.

He said it is unfortunate that such incidents can happen when the Malawi Constitution clearly stipulates that it is criminal to call somebody a witch.

“May I request my fellow honourable members to civic-educate our constituents on the evils of taking the law into their hands,” Dausi said.

It was in the course of answering follow up questions on the issue that the blackout occurred in the chamber.

The country is facing serious power problems, with other areas experiencing up to 12 hours a day without electricity.

Law and order, Malawi, Top News

Malawi Speaker Msowoya’s fate with FND in limbo; Case adjourned to later date

Lloyd M’bwana
By Alick Junior Sichali
The case in which Forum for National Development [FND] sued Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya to stop performing his duties of the post has been adjourned to a date to be advised by the High Court in Blantyre.
On Monday, 24 September the court was expected to continue hearing the case after it was adjourned on 28 August following the appeal from FND lawyers to prepare to answer the objections made by state lawyers.
In an interview with State Lawyer,  Owen Chuma, confirmed the development saying the case has been adjourned to a later date.
“When we came to court on 28 august, lawyer for FND asked for an adjournment so that he could respond to the objections.Then the matter was adjourned to today at 2:00 o’clock but when I arrived at the court i was told that the judge who was abraod had arrived home last Saturday and that he was not prepared to hear the matter today. So it has been adjourned to a date to be advised,” Chuma said.
On the court proceedings of 28 August, State Lawyer, Owen Chuma filed two objections in the court.
In his application Chuma raised a preliminary objection saying FND sued a wrong party (Office of the Speaker of National Assembly) saying they were supposed to sue the Attorney General’s office.
He said the office of the speaker is a public office so it cannot be sued in the case hence asking the removal of the office in the matter.
Chuma further said that FND has no interest on the matter as it cannot stand for Malawians saying they are presented by member of parliament.
“FND does not have locus stand or Sufficient interest in this matter. They do not represent Malawians because Malawians are represented by MPs, this issue can only be resolved  by an MP to move a motion to impeach him for crossing the floor,” explained Chuma.
Yesterday the court was supposed to make its rulling on weather to grant an injuction after hearing both the preliminary objections and the substantive matter.
In June the then MCP’s Vice President announced his resignation from the party saying he will continue serving his constituents as an independent lawmaker.
Msowoya said Malawi Congress Party leadership is no longer standing on its pillars that it has been promoting for decades, hence his resignation.
Msowoya then joined United Transformation Movement (UTM) after days of his resignation announcement.
After the speaker’s announcement to joining UTM, Forum for National Development made an application for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Richard Msowoya from exercising functions and duties of the office of the Speaker and restraining the Office of the Speaker of National Assembly (OSNA) from recognizing Msowoya as Speaker and further restraining OSNA from according him any rights or privileges that are accorded to Speaker of NA.
This is beause FND alleges that Richard Msowoya crossed the floor when he dumped MCP and joined UTM
Malawi, Top News

Chilima’s UTM up for Malawi’s lost glory”s recovery: to create one million jobs in six months

Maravi Post Reporter
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s vice president Saulos Chilima on Saturday launched the much awaited his grouping, United Transformation Movement (UTM) with an assurance of creating one million jobs in six months after wining the elections in 2019.
Chilima, 45 made a strong political statement of intent presenting a considerable threat to ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in next year’s general elections when he launched ‘new hope for change’ – United Transformation Movement (UTM) at Masintha ground in the capital Lilongwe , seeking to unseat the 79-year-old President Peter Mutharika.
Supporters of UTM were keen to put their stamp on Malawi political history.
They wore a combination of red and yellow T-shirts, bearing the slogan, ” Tsogolu lathu lowala, labwino, lafika”.
A frenzy of excitement rippled around Masintha as Chilima accompanied by his wife Mary, arrived in the Toyota Landcruiser registration number SKC 9933.
When Chilima rose to address the rally which was beamed live on Mibawa TV and Zodiak watched by millions both in Malawi and abroad even streaming on social media, he delivered a vintage speech, brimming with passion and emotion.
He started his address by calling all to respect those who lost lives in the July 2011 anti government demonstration.
SKC – Saulos Klaus Chilima said: “The tendency of intimating Malawians is slowly starting to take its roots back in the country. I am not afraid and you too shouldn’t”
He told a mammoth crowd at the country’s political barometer which failed to accommodate the audience as some spilled to the nearby Kawale Primary school, that next year he will be changing his position from Vice President to President of the Republic through the ballot.
“This country is on fire and this mammoth crowd here tells us one thing that we all want to change,”said Chilima clad in red and yellow UTM cloth.
“ We seek votes from you and when we are comfortable we forget about the promises we made and start stealing public resources and this has been happening for all the past administrations,” said Chilima amid ululations from the crowd when he launched his .
He decried high corruption and nepotism cases in the country saying its high time UTM ‘clean the swamp’.
Chilima also spelt out some points in their yet to launch manifesto which will address among other things public sector reforms, education, health, security and power reforms.
“The money to develop this country is here. For example we know where to get the K145 million. We need to strengthen public systems and I can assure you that in the first six months of my government we will deal with issues of lack of school fees and those people who have stolen public money should start giving it back now,” said an emphatic Chilima.
He also announced to the ulululation of the crowd that his government will end the education quota system and restore merit.
“We will end the quota system in our education system,” he said to the defeating noise.
Chilima also hinted that women will be “stopped” to dance for leaders but will be empowered to do business and can only dance when celebrating their “profits”.
Among other issues, Chilima said land redistribution and review of land policies will among his adminstration’s agenda..
The UTM leader also deplored the issue of albino killings, saying government will ensure maximum security to end the ritual killings.
He said his party’s mission was to guide Malawi on the path to prosperity by tackling unemployment, power shortages, corruption and creating viable markets for farmers.
The UTM also unveiled influential politicians as party members, including the Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, and former first ladies Callista Mutharika and Shanil Dzimbiri.
The Vice President was mobbed by people as he left the rally and his convoy moved at a snails pace to his official Area 12 residence.
The UTM is also expected to relaunched in the commercial city of Blantyre next week.
Malawi, Politics, Top News

Speaker of Parliament and colleagues Versus MCP battle not over

Maravi Post Reporter

Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya, and other senior members of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) filed a fresh application for an injunction to restrain the party’s National Executive Committee (Nec) from suspending them.

The fresh application follows a decision made in court, earlier yesterday, by lawyer representing the complainants, Kalekeni Kaphale, to discontinue the case.

“We thought that we were wasting a lot of time talking about technical issues when we need to focus on the substance of the mater. They say the original proceedings as filed were irregular on the issue of the delay by less than 24 hours of the renewal of my licence but the law allows a party to discontinue a matter and recommence it. So, tactically, we believe we should take advantage of that facility which is available and recommence so we are recommencing this afternoon,” he said.

In an interview later in the day, Kaphale confirmed filing a fresh application but could not shed more light on it, saying there are no changes to the initial application.

“Everything is the same,” he said.

Lawyer representing MCP, Robert Nthewa, did not object to both the discontinuation and recommencement.

“We do not have a problem to discontinue the case [and] at the same time recommence [it]. The claimants will make fresh applications and I believe that, when that is done, the matter will still come for inter partes hearing,” he said.

MCP acting secretary general, Eisenhower Mkaka, said, as of now, there is no injunction and that the committee would, therefore, come up with a new date for disciplinary hearing.

“The discontinuation means there is no injunction… The disciplinary committee has to set up a date for hearing so that these people have to be taken through a disciplinary process,” he said.

Msowoya was suspended from his position as first deputy president, Kaliwo as secretary general, Tony Kandiero as director of international relations while James Chatonda Kaunda was suspended from the position of first deputy secretary general.

The Nec meeting also resolved to fire Salima North West Member of Parliament, Jessie Kabwila, from the party

Environment, Top News

Mulanje and Thyolo people destroys Mangochi’s environment-UDF MP Mambo

Maravi Post Reporter

People from Mulanje and Thyolo districts who are relocated in Mangochi as part of resettlement land development programme called ‘Kudzigulira Malo’ are accused of destroying the beauty of lakeshore district, Parliament has been told.

Mangochi Nkungulu member of Parliament (MP) Aisha Mambo (United Democratic Front-UDF) said in the House that the natural disasters the country has been experiencing in the recent years are due to climate change of which in one way or another is a manmade problem.

“Mr Speaker, Sir, in Mangochi Nkungulu, we used to have very beautiful hills but now the beauty has disappeared due to our colleagues from Mulanje and Thyolo through the Kudzigulira Malo Project.

“These people, Mr Speaker, Sir, have cut down all trees and killed all animals. If there are any animals left in these hills then they are human beings with axes in their hands ready to cut down the remaining small trees,” Mambo said.

Mambo asked for government to find other ways of helping them to allow the baby trees to grow so that the forest can be reforested.

“ Mr Speaker, Sir, the people of Mangochi Nkungulu and I would want the beauty of Mangochi Nkungulu to return the way we used to see when I was young, before these colleagues were moved to this constituency.

But rising on a point of order, MP for Mulanje West Patricia Kaliati (Democratic Progressive Party – DPP) querried Mambo for alleging that those who are cutting down trees are those on the programme of Kudzigulira Malo.

“She is also alleging that those who are there are from Mulanje and Thyolo, yet those who are looking for land are not only from Mulanje and Thyolo. And when we go to Mangochi, Machinga or across the country, there are different people mongering around and not only from Mulanje and Thyolo. Is it in order to do that?” Kaliati asked.

Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya ruled that “ it is perfectly in order” because the Mambo was talking about her constituency.

“I am sure she has done some research and she knows where those people come from,” he said.
Land remains the most significant productive asset for the majority of Malawians, yet it is far from being equitably distributed.

The Kudzigulira Malo Project is a direct beneficiary of the land reform process resettling people from areas of high land pressure to other areas, thereby increasing people’s access to land and thereby increasing agricultural production.

The pilot project seems to have been implemented without any element of social amenities or community facilities.

Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Malawi VP Chilima led Malawians burying “Impi” Sam Mpasu

Maravi Post Reporter

NTCHEU-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima led the nation in mourning and laying to rest veteran politician Sam Mpasu, at the funeral ceremony on Sunday at his home village Khuzi,Traditional Authority (T.A) Kwataine in Ntcheu.

Mpasu, who died February 12, 2018 at his Blantyre residence in Mudi was accorded a full military honour funeral service by government in recognition of the great role he played in the development of the country.

The body of the Malawi Parliament’s former Speaker and former parliamentarian for Ntcheu Central in a hard wood casket with its lid draped by an animal skin, permanently sealing his identity as a Ngoni and an Impi was laid to rest with gun salute from Malawi Defence Force (MDF).

It was followed by the military brass band played ‘Last Post’ which was followed by Reveille.

Chilima in his euology described the late Mpasu as a great man who contributed a lot to the development and democratic process of the country.

He added that the late Mpasu who was the former minister in the United Democratic Front (UDF) administration played in the effort to entrench democratic values in this country, cannot be ignored.

The Vice President therefore urged Malawians to emulate a good example set by the deceased.

“There are a lot of achievements to his credit which we can outline as a country. He was such a great man the country has ever had,” said Chilima.

The Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya described late Mpasu as “a courageous” politician who played a great role in ensuring that there was peaceful transition of government from one party rule to multiparty.

“For those that know Sam, will agree with me that he was a very courageous man who used to speak without fear for the betterment of
Malawians,” said Msowoya.

Representing the bereaved family, Reverend Martin Kantwela said the family has lost a great man who was a pillar for the family.

He thanked late Mpasu’s son John for making it possible to alert family representatives in Malawi to check on their father after his daughter Becky became suspicious of something when his father wasn’t picking up his phone.

Fondly known by his Ngoni name Biyeni, Mpasu served as a diplomat in the Foreign Service, worked as a cabinet minister in different portfolios during Bakili Muluzi era and served as parliamentarian for Ntcheu central constituency.

He was also a writer and has left two books behind titled “Nobody’s friend” and “Political Prisoner 3/75 of Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda” where he highlighted his experience as a prisoner at Mikuyu prison during Kamuzu era when he was detained without trial.

The funeral service was attended by several dignitaries which included former speaker of parliament Louis Chimango, Speaker Richard Msowoya and her deputy Esther Mcheka Chilenje, leader of opposition Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, Magochi South legislator Lilian Patel who represented United Democratic Front (UDF) the party under which Mpasu served as Minister and secretary general.

Other mourners included parliamentarians, cabinet ministers, chiefs, clergy and government officials among others.

He was born in 1945 and is survived by six children. Many people described Mpasu as a fearless fighter and champion of social justice.