| National |
| Gwanda surrenders position to Tembo |
| by Mc Donald Chapalapata,Mc Donald Chapalapata, 26 December 2003 - 13:18:16 |
Opposition’s Malawi Congress Party vice president Gwanda Chakuamba has “voluntarily relinquished his position” as leader of opposition and given it to his boss John Tembo who has just been reinstated to the National Assembly by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
A statement from the party’s acting publicity secretary Steve Ching’ang’a on Christmas eve says Chakuamba has advised MCP legal advisor and Chief Whip in Parliament Louis Chimango to communicate to the Speaker of Parliament of the change.
The statement says Chakuamba now becomes deputy leader of opposition in the House.
“This is in keeping with the resolution of the National Executive Committee No. NEC9/03 which was passed when it met in Lilongwe on January 19, 2003 that he who becomes president of the party automatically assumes the role of leader of opposition. It is also in keeping with the standing orders of Parliament on the subject,” reads the statement in part.
The MCP also applauded the Supreme Court ‘for exercising judicial independence under “very difficult circumstances when the executive branch of government was busy making pre-emptive statements on political platforms with an aim to derail justice”.
Chakuamba could not be reached for comment on Friday and his personal secretary Grace Mhango declined to comment on the matter.
The Supreme Court of Appeal on Tuesday reinstated Tembo and Deputy Secretary General Kate Kainja to Parliament where they were sacked following their conviction of contempt of court last year.
,Opposition’s Malawi Congress Party vice president Gwanda Chakuamba has “voluntarily relinquished his position” as leader of opposition and given it to his boss John Tembo who has just been reinstated to the National Assembly by the Supreme Court of Appeal.
A statement from the party’s acting publicity secretary Steve Ching’ang’a on Christmas eve says Chakuamba has advised MCP legal advisor and Chief Whip in Parliament Louis Chimango to communicate to the Speaker of Parliament of the change.
The statement says Chakuamba now becomes deputy leader of opposition in the House.
“This is in keeping with the resolution of the National Executive Committee No. NEC9/03 which was passed when it met in Lilongwe on January 19, 2003 that he who becomes president of the party automatically assumes the role of leader of opposition. It is also in keeping with the standing orders of Parliament on the subject,” reads the statement in part.
The MCP also applauded the Supreme Court ‘for exercising judicial independence under “very difficult circumstances when the executive branch of government was busy making pre-emptive statements on political platforms with an aim to derail justice”.
Chakuamba could not be reached for comment on Friday and his personal secretary Grace Mhango declined to comment on the matter.
The Supreme Court of Appeal on Tuesday reinstated Tembo and Deputy Secretary General Kate Kainja to Parliament where they were sacked following their conviction of contempt of court last year.
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