DPP says won’t give up on Leader of Opposition battle

Malawi’s former ruling Democratic Progressive Party – DPP – has said it will re-launch its legal battle for leader of opposition in Parliament Monday next week.

In an interview with ZBS DPP Spokesperson Mr Nicholas Dausi maintained that the party’s leader, Professor Peter Mutharika, brother to the party’s former President late Bingu wa Mutharika is the legitimate leader of opposition in Parliament.

“We are going back to court on Monday to re-launch our bid for leader of opposition in Parliament. We are leaving no stone unturned in our fight for the leader of opposition post in the house,” said Mr Dausi.

His sentiments comes in reaction to the High Court’s decision on Friday to dismiss a case in which the party sued Speaker of the National Assembly Henry Chimunthu Banda for not recognizing Professor Peter Mutharika as leader of opposition in the house .

DPP challenged the speaker’s failure to act on its communication of June 25, 2012 advising him of the election of Mutharika as DPP acting president.

The leader of opposition post is currently being held by the Malawi Congress Party president and veteran politician Mr John Tembo.

However, the DPP wanted Professor Mutharika become leader of opposition on the basis that the party has the largest number of MPs in the house.

High Court Judge Anaclet Chipeta, however, threw out the case on the basis that the DDP has no capacity to sue.

The DPP unceremoniously shifted to the opposition benches in parliament following the demise of its founding leader and Malawi’s former President Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012.