American couple escapes jail for misbehaving in Malawi parliament

An American couple, Reverend and Mrs. Paul Hella, on Tuesday escaped a two year imprisonment for disturbing parliament proceedings in Malawi, thanks to Speaker Chimunthu Banda’s decision to forgive the two.

The Speaker had earlier summoned the two for waving the old Malawi flag (with the rising sun, which will soon be reinstated as the national flag) from the visitors’ gallery, a section within the chamber, soon after the Speaker recognised their presence.

This forced the Speaker to instruct Sergeant at arms to bring the two to his office where they spent about half an hour being grilled by parliament authorities.

“Members you might be aware that I summoned two visitors to my office for their unbecoming behavior. Our laws indicate that such behaviour attracts a fine of 200 British pounds or two years imprisonment,” said Speaker Chimunthu Banda adding;

Mutharika had changed the old Malawi flag (with the rising sun) to his own version with a full white sun, which was hugely unpopular and an eyesore to many Malawians. The new govt has since swiftly reversed this change. The new changes that revert to the old flag are yet to be signed into law.

The two Americans have apologised for their unbecoming behaviour and the Speaker had accepted the apology.

The written apology in part read “I write to apologise to you the Speaker of the Malawi Parliament and MPs for our unbecoming behaviour. We accept that our conduct disturbed deliberations and we therefore apologise.”

Earlier before the decision was made, the couple told the media that they waved the flag, which has since been confiscated, out of happiness.

“It’s great to be here in Malawi. This is a great country and this is why we were waving the flag. We stay in Nkhata-bay and we are here at the invitation of our MP,” said the couple as Sergeant at arms whisked them away from reporters.

According to the Speaker, the couple is in Malawi at the invitation of the Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP church but was at parliament at the invitation of their MP Grace Chiumia, popularly known as Obama, of Nkhatabay North West.