Opposition MPs want Tembenu to resign

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentarians have asked Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu to resign for failing to explain to the House  how the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government is tackling corruption in the country.

Lilongwe Msozi South lawmaker Vitus Dzoole-Mwale asked Tembenu to resign on Friday in Parliament after the Justice Minister said he had not prepared answers to a question on measures government is taking to stamp out corruption.

Tembenu informed the House that he was not ready with his response and asked the members and the House to expect a response on Tuesday.

But the response did not go down well with some opposition MPs who stood on a Point of Order requesting the minister to provide an immediate response.

Standing on a Point of Order, Lilongwe Mapuyu South parliamentarian, Joseph Njobvuyalema, described the minister’s response as ‘not serious’.

Echoing calls for the minister to step down, Uladi Mussa, who is MP for Salima South and leader of People’s Party (PP) in the House, said Tembenu was deliberately avoiding the issue.

“The minister is trying to shield the former Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development] George Chaponda who was relieved of his duties after he was found with millions of kwacha in his  house and up to now government is  failing to arrest him  because he is a DPP member,” said Mussa.

He said had it been that the money was found in his [Mussa’s] house or that of leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera, government would have pounced on them to rot in jail.

But Tembenu informed the House that the Anti-Corruption Bureau [ACB] should be given a chance to tackle the issue.However, the First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka-Chilenje curtailed debate on the matter, saying the issue had brought misunderstandings in the House.n