Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Councillor for Blantyre City Soche East Ward Leonard Chimbanga has saluted the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for disowning a proposal by leader of the house in Parliament Richard Chimwendo Banda to have a nomination fees for MPs hiked.

In his submission earlier this week, Chimwendo Banda proposed a hike in nomination fees that candidates pay to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to Mk5 million.

Chimwendo Banda said the fees are too little, such that anyone who expresses interest in contesting in an election can do so.

But MCP spokesperson Maurice Munthali has quashed the proposal, saying Chimwendo Banda’s remarks should be treated as his.

“It should, therefore, never be seen as representing the party’s stand at the moment. Rather, it should be understood as an expression of a personal opinion, much as it was said by the Leader of the House,” said Munthali.

Chimbanga has since saluted the party on the matter.

“#Kudos to Maurice Munthali for trashing his Leader of the house in Parliament Richard Chimwendo on the MK5 million proposition for one to be eligible to contest as an MP and for calling malawians every Jim n jack because of their poverty.

Perhaps it’s time to consider someone more competent to lead you in the house. We need smart people in these positions, not overnight billionaires who do not understand the process of wealth creation and who will not look down on the majority of malawians. Hand clappers were siding with him yesterday well the Party is saying no,” wrote Chimbanga.

Currently, nomination fees for parliamentary elections are pegged at K500,000 for male candidates and K250,000 for female candidates while the youth pay K375,000 and people with disabilities pay K250,000.

Male presidential candidates pay K2 million while female ones pay K1 million.