PP hits at Chaponda’s ‘frequent travels’

People’s Party (PP) yesterday accused government of selective implementation of the travel ban, mentioning Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation George Chaponda as a frequent traveller.

PP spokesperson on finance Ralph Jooma levelled the accusations in his response to the Mid-Term Budget Review Statement.

“He travels on his own. He travels where His Excellency the President is going and he also travels where His Excellency the President has decided not to go. He travels and travels and travels to the extent that he risks being declared a non-resident of Malawi,” he said.

But Chaponda, a lawyer, took exception to the remarks and wrongly referred the issue to Standing Order 100 instead of Standing Order 99 which prohibits reflection on the President, Cabinet ministers, judges and others during debate.

Speaker Richard Msowoya granted Chaponda relief by declaring Jooma’s remarks out of order and that be struck off the Hansard.