Mchinji West MP collapses, dead
Mchinji West member of Parliament (MP) Billy Kanjira Banda (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) died yesterday after he collapsed at St Francis Catholic Church in Lilongwe’s Area 25.
Parliament principal public relations officer Ian Mwenye confirmed Kanjira Banda’s death in an interview yesterday. However, he said the National Assembly was awaiting further details from the family.
He said: “I can confirm that the honourable member for Mchinji West has died and we are waiting for further information.”
Mchinji South West MP Deus Gumba Banda also confirmed his colleague’s death, saying he was pronounced dead on arrival at Daeyang Luke Hospital.
He said: “I am now at Daeyang Hospital and they are yet to take the body to the mortuary. I’ll give you details later when I consult the family.”
Kanjira Banda was elected MP in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections.
Ironically, Kanjira Banda was thrown out of Parliament on Friday after a heated exchange with First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje who was chairing the Committee of Supply on the Mid-year Budget review.
In his contribution to an allocation under the Democracy Consolidation Programme through the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), the MP alleged that some Cabinet ministers would personally benefit in millions of kwacha from such allocations.
When challenged to bring evidence, Kanjira Banda said he would do so. Mcheka Chilenje then asked him to return to the chamber this afternoon with evidence.
Prior to kicking him out, Mcheka Chilenje accused the MP of being personal. She advised the legislator that his emotional outburst was not good for his health.
(Background and context by The Nation)
