The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is calling on President Peter Mutharika to take decisive action in the fallout between Speaker of the National Assembly Sameer Suleman and the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Speaking at a media briefing in Blantyre on Friday, CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa warned that the President’s silence could damage public confidence in his leadership.
Namiwa said he was concerned about attempts by the DPP to intimidate the Speaker for setting up joint committees to provide much-needed oversight on matters of national importance.
“I am concerned with attempts by the DPP to intimidate the Speaker for setting up joint committees to provide the much-needed oversight on matters of national importance,” said Namiwa.
On Thursday, the DPP, through its Secretary General Peter Mukhito, condemned Suleman, arguing that he had disrespected the party and its leadership and had shown a lack of political maturity.
Suleman came into the spotlight after raising issues concerning the Salima Water Project, the civil servants’ contributory pension scheme, electricity supply, ESCOM and EGENCO, NOCMA, passport services, delayed judgments, prison conditions, mining and agriculture, among others.
“Parliament must exercise oversight, the Executive must be allowed to govern, and the Judiciary must remain independent, while party leaders are expected to observe discipline. The DPP says it will not shield wrongdoing but will also not accept conduct that unnecessarily weakens the President’s authority, frustrates government programmes or creates avoidable public confrontation.
“Political maturity demands consultation before confrontation,” read part of Mukhito’s statement.
Meanwhile, Namiwa said the DPP’s statement raises serious questions about the party’s position on governance, accountability, the fight against corruption and the separation of state powers.
“Needless to remind the Secretary General [Mukhito] that Parliament’s three mandates are representation, oversight and legislation. Therefore, the Speaker’s move to establish joint committees to oversee certain national matters that are raising more questions than answers among Malawians cannot, and should not, be interpreted as disrespecting the State President.
“That granted, the fact that Suleman’s speakership is courtesy of the DPP does not give the party leeway to control him,” stressed Namiwa.
Meanwhile, the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has also backed Suleman on the matter, saying that “Parliament is an independent arm of government with the responsibility to represent Malawians and provide an oversight role.”
The Presidency is yet to comment on the matter.
