Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has made some reshuffles in its parliamentary committees which have seen embattled chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Felix Jumbe being moved to become a mere member of the Defence and Security Committee.
But the Salima Central MP Jumbe, not quite convinced with the rationale of the changes, said he is consulting his lawyer on the way forward.
Speaker of National Assembly Richard Msowoya on Friday announced that MCP wrote him that the party had made some changes of leadership in two committees of Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources.
Speaker of the National assembly Richard Msowoya announced on Friday that the changes have been made after the party has wrote him.
The changes have seen Alex Major of Kasungu West, who was the deputy chairperson of Environment and Natural Resources Committee , has been moved to be in the committee on International Relations and Statutory cooperation as a mere member.
But both Jumbe and Major claim that they were not informed by the party hierarchy, arguing that was against Standing order 152 of Parliamentary Procedures.
Major, said because of the development, he ceases chairing several international committees affiliated to the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
“The best the party should have done is to ask the President [Peter Mutharika] or speaker for my removal because of the implications,” he said
Major, however, said he cannot compete with the party leadership on the changes.
On his part, Jumbe told reporters after he got wind of the news of the reshuffle that he will never be intimidated. He, however, said that he will continue to fight on.
He told Nation on Sunday that he is consulting his lawyers on the matter.
But MCP Chief Whip Robin Lowe says the party has the mandate to relocate members each and every year.
“Why is Jumbe so concerned about the changes? The party would like other members to have an experience on how to manage such committees,” he said.
