Parties ready for meet

Malawi's largest political parties in Parliament have said they were ready for the inaugural meeting slated for June 2.

The parties also said they looked forward to an improved working relationships between ruling and opposition legislators.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) are the most influential political parties in Parliament. DPP has, so far, including independent candidates who have jumped ship, 139 Members of Parliament (MPs), MCP 26 and 16 for UDF.

This means president Bingu wa Mutharika's DPP has a working majority, one it may use to bring about various changes.

DPP Spokesperson, Hetherwick Ntaba, said the party was just looking forward to the meet, now that Mutharika has appointed his line ministers and the party already voted for names to fill the influential position of Speaker and his deputies. The party has also nominated Leader of the House in the name of Goodall Gondwe, Chief Whip and House Committee chairpersons.

"We are ready for everything," said Ntaba.

Leader of the UDF in Parliament, Ibrahim Matola, said party MPs were happy that the meeting was finnally here, on June 22, and his party legislators looked forward to a cordial working relationship with the ruling DPP.

"Yes, we are ready. We would wish to bring about constructive changes in our conduct, and hope to do this by building a good working relationship with those on the ruling side. Being in opposition does not mean being enemies of development initiatives. In fact, it is our role as the opposition to complement government in it's development initiatives," said Matola.

His sentiments were echoed by MCP's Director of Research, Lington Belekanyama, who said the party would hold a caucus to elect Parliamentary office bearers after which, he said, the party would be fully ready for everything.

"But we are happy that MPs are meeting, and look forward to fruitful deliberations," said Belekanyama.

AEP/Richard Chirombo