By Chancy Namadzunda:
Two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) camps which were fighting for the position of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Parliament have burried the hatchet following mediation talks presided over by Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda at the high court in Lilongwe on Friday.
One camp, led by DPP President Peter Mutharika appointed Mulanje South West legislator George Chaponda as LoP replacing Mulanje Central Parliamentarian Kondwani Nankhumwa.
Nankhumwa was accused of appointing himself to the position without the party’s blessings.
This resulted in a court battle between Nankhumwa and Chaponda before the High Court dismissed Chaponda ordering that the two parties should go for mediation.
However, on Friday, DPP Presidential Spokesperson, Shadric Namalomba confirmed that the two parties have now accepted Nankhumwa as LoP.
“DPP offered to withdraw the name of Dr Chaponda as Leader of Opposition until we hold fresh elections for the Leader of Opposition. We asked the Court to direct as to the period within which to hold the fresh election, but the Claimants refused to involve the Court in internal party affairs. So we left it to the party to decide when to hold fresh elections for the Leader of Opposition,” Namalomba said in a statement quoting DPP Director of Legal Affairs Charles Mhango.
He said Nakhumwa will hold the position of the Leader of Opposition until fresh elections involving all DPP members of Parliament and that the Party leadership will advise on the date and venue of the election.
