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Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has left members of Parliament (MPs) from the Northern Region feeling short-changed on the position of First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly purportedly arranged to go to the region. DPP yesterday announced the nomination of Mulanje Bale MP Victor Musowa for the position. On the other hand, the Northern bloc had proposed Mzimba North legislator Catherine Mzumara, the vice-president of UTM Party responsible for the North, as the candidate representing the region. Karonga Central MP Frank Mwenifumbo, who was in the team of MPs from the North that met the DPP delegation, said in an interview that the new governing party approached them through its organising secretary and candidate for the Speakership Sameer Suleman who was accompanied by Thyolo Central MP Ben Phiri , who is also director of political affairs, to provide a name for the position of First Deputy Speaker. Said Mwenifumbo: “For us, we have decided to nominate Dr Mzumara for that position. We are grateful for what the DPP has done and for us, we have made a choice of Dr Mzumara. As a sign of appreciation, we made it clear that we will support Suleman on his quest for Speakership. “If there are any changes, then we expect that they will come and let us know as they did when asking us to provide a name. As the North bloc, we want to work with the government and in choosing a name, we are not minding parties, but moving as one entity.” He said even if changes are made, they will still support Suleman for the position of Speaker, but remained optimistic on Mzumara’s position. In a separate interview, Nkhata Bay Chintheche Constituency MP Noah Chimpeni of People’s Party said the choice for Mzumara was not linked to a party. “I don’t support UTM, because I am with the People’s Party, but we had to settle for someone matured, and someone we can trust, that is why we chose Mzumara. We think this is a progressive move,” he said. But Suleman, legislator for Blantyre City Chigumula BCA Club Banana Constituency, said in a separate interview yesterday that the DPP was yet to get a response from the group although the party was unofficially aware of two names being mentioned, namely Mzumara and Mzimba Kafukule legislator Madalitso Chidumu Baloyi (independent). He said: “We engaged them and asked that they provide us with the name of an independent candidate. We wanted someone neutral, not attached to a political party because we thought of having someone who can relate with everyone. “We have heard of the names of Mzumara who is UTM vice- president for the North and Madalitso Chidumu Baloyi, an independent legislator of Mzimba Kafukule, who also approached us. We are waiting to be told of the name so that we present the same to the President for endorsement.” However, Baloyi said she had withdrawn her interest to contest for the post and acknowledged that the Northern bloc had resolved to support Mzumara. She pledged to support “another candidate” for the same position. Both Mzumara and Baloyi are making their debut in Parliament. On Friday, the Northern bloc held a meeting led by the country’s former vice-president Khumbo Kachali, legislator for Mzimba South West. Mwenifumbo and Chimpeni were also in attendance. DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba took to his Facebook page, saying party leader Peter Mutharika, who is also the country’s President, has nominated Musowa as First Deputy Speaker candidate. He said: “Let us support the appointed Honourable members. This is the new DPP, with a new agenda, to transform Malawi for all. The return of the proven leadership!” Elections for Speakership roles are determined by numbers and traditionally parties bank on partnerships to secure them. From the 224 constituencies that the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared results, DPP secured 78 seats followed by independents with 70 seats while the erstwhile governing MCP has 53 seats and UTM Party has eight. United Democratic Front (UDF) won four while PP and Aford grabbed three each and Freedom Party, National Democratic Party and People’s Development Party (PDP) clinched one seat each. To attain the Speakership positions, one has to secure a majority of the votes in a first-past-the-post system. Section 53(1) of the Constitution stipulates that the Speaker of the National Assembly shall be elected by majority vote of the chamber in which s/he sits at the first sitting after any dissolution of that chamber. Further, the members shall also elect any stipulated number of persons to the positions of deputy speakers. Currently, Parliament has two; First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker. MPs for the 2025-2030 cohort of Parliament will take their oaths of office today and tomorrow at Parliament Building in Lilongwe. Elections for the positions of Speaker, First Deputy and Second Deputy are set for October 29. Besides Suleman, the other candidates for the position of Speaker are Mulanje Cnetral legislator Kondwani Nankhumwa of PDP and Phalombe Machemba Constituency legislator George Katunga Million (independent).
