In a twist of events, four Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators have distanced themselves from an injunction stopping Mulanje South West legislator George Chaponda from assuming the position of Leader of Opposition in Parliament.

The four are Blantyre City South member of Parliament (MP) Noel Lipipa, Phalombe North East parliamentarian Dennis Namachekecha, Zomba Lisanjala lawmaker William Susuwele Banda and Thyolo Thekerani South legislator Mavuto Sandram Scott.

Jeffrey: We have not received
any complaint

The quartet was among 22 DPP MPs who purportedly signed court documents to support embattled Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday on condition of anonymity, one of the lawmakers said he was not consulted to be on the list of those seeking an injunction against Chaponda.

He said: “My suspicion is that, the list [of 22 names] was for those who agreed to take a court order stopping the party from conducting the meeting to choose Leader of Opposition because we wanted all MPs, including the secretary general [Grezelder Jeffrey] to be present.

“Those who have obtained the court injunction might have just copied and pasted those names without consulting individual MPs. There is no way I can sue my own party in this way. What we just wanted was to have a meeting that represented everyone.”

On the other hand, Susuwele Banda, without giving further details, confirmed withdrawing his name from the list.

However, Lipipa refused to comment on the matter, saying it is an internal matter being handled by the party.

In a separate interview, lawyer Wapona Kita, who filed the application on behalf of the legislators, said the decision by the four lawmakers has no implication on the case.

He described their withdrawal as a mere group dynamics issue, saying the sworn statement used in support of the application for injunction was signed by the MPs.

Kita said: “The signing was to the effect that they all agreed and if one is lying then they are lying amongst themselves under oath, but as far as we are concerned, it is them who are telling the court that they are acting as a group, and they have to sort it among themselves. Even if we remain with one member of Parliament, the case is as strong as it was.”

But another lawyer who spoke on condition of anonymity, on Thursday, said court documents are sworn under oath, as such, there could be a legal issue if the said MPs, who have withdrawn from the case, lodged a complaint to the court.

On Tuesday, High Court of Malawi Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda granted the order to the legislators barely a day after Parliament acknowledged Chaponda’s appointment as Leader of Opposition in Parliament to replace Nankhumwa.

Parliament had also invited Chaponda to a Business Committee Meeting on Wednesday. Jeffrey, who is siding with Nankhumwa, on Thursday said her office has not received any complaint on the court application.

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