Speaker helpless on Section 65

Members of Parliament defecting to People’s Party (PP) have no backing of the Speaker of the National Assembly when it comes to the application of Section 65 of the Constitution.

The section stipulates that any Member of Parliament who crosses the floor or is in association with an organisation which is political in nature such PP will have his or her seat in the National Assembly declared vacant.
Asked on Thursday whether Section 65 does not send shivers to the MPs who are presenting their applications to the Speaker that they no longer belong to the Democratic Progressive Party, Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda said he did not know what would become of the MPs in view of the section.

“That will be the question to be answered by themselves. I am just a recipient and a recipient cannot express [anything on their behalf],” said Chimunthu Banda.
He added that he will have to consult the Attorney General for direction.
The Speaker said he had received overwhelming numbers of applications from MPs who are announcing their defections.

He did not have the exact number, but said the defections are in three categories with some wanting to be declared independents, others to sit on government bench and the last group resigning from their parties to join PP.
Meanwhile, there are over 20 DPP MPs from the South who are trekking to PP.

Regional governor for the South Noel Masangwi, without sounding
surprised, said the MPs have their right to do so.

“As for me and others, we shall remain in DPP. I will learn to see how it feels to be on the opposite side,” he said.

When Masangwi invited DPP MPs in the south to discuss funeral arrangements for the late president Bingu wa Mutharika last week, only 26 MPs came for the meeting.