Negotiations keep Nankhumwa as Leader of Opposition in Parliament

Malawi: Disagreements over the position of Leader of the Opposition in Parliament between Mulanje Central Legislator Kondwani Nankhumwa and Mulanje South Legislator George Chaponda have been resolved following mediation talks, with Nankhumwa remaining the rightful holder of the position.

Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda presided over the mediation talks at the Lilongwe High Court on Friday, September 23, 2022.

During the debate, members on Chaponda's side admitted that appointing him as Leader of the Opposition at Page House two months ago was a mistake, claiming that the exercise sidelined other parliamentarians.

The parties also agreed to remove Chaponda's name from the case and recognise Nankhumwa as the legitimate LoP.

Kondwani Nankhumwa, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, has also confirmed the outcome to AfricaBrief.

Nankhumwa's lawyer Wapona Kita confirmed to AfricaBrief that Chaponda's side admitted that they were wrong to appoint him to the position.

“The people who came to represent the DPP, Hon Charles Mhango and Hon Chimwemwe Chipungu, together with Hon Chaponda and his lawyer admitted that the meeting they convened at Page House on June 26 this year was not duly constituted,” disclosed Kita.

“Both sides then discussed in the presence of Judge Nyirenda and Hon Chaponda decided to withdraw the case. This now means that Hon Nankhumwa is the legitimate Leader of Opposition in Parliament.”

Nankhumwa's election has been met with fierce opposition from his own Democratic Progressive Party-DPP, with party president Peter Mutharika refusing to recognise him as the legitimate holder of the post.