MP Suleman gets 90 days suspension
Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) on Friday suspended Blantyre City South legislator Sameer Suleman for attacking Parliament’s sergeant-at-arms.
The commission, according to the communication made by Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, also found deputy Transport Minister Charles Mchacha, member of Parliament (MP) for Thyolo West, guilty of misconduct and slapped him with a one-month suspension.
Yusufu Nthenda, MP for Mulanje West, who was given marching orders but Mchacha wanted to defy the Speaker by blocking him from going out, has been suspended for one week.
The commission further found Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Kasaila, who is Nsanje Central MP, and Minister of Sports Francis Phiso, Blantyre North MP, guilty and reprimanded them.
The two DPP legislators, Suleman and Mchacha, physically attacked the sergeant-at-arms in a bid to stop him from executing the Speaker’s order for them to leave the House.
A charged up Suleman, who was seen taking off his jacket in readiness for a fist fight, also threatened to beat journalists covering parliamentary proceedings.
Earlier in the week, Mchacha and Machinga Central East MP Daudi Chikwanje were suspended by Speaker for two days for gross indiscipline.
The disorder happened when the legislators started debating motions on Electoral Reforms Bills on February 20.
Leader of the House Kondwani Nankhumwa regretted the legislators’ misconduct.
