Thyolo Thava lawmaker Mary Navicha, who has been nominated by DPP as Leader of Opposition, has apparently ‘responded’ to the SONA but outside Parliament.
But, according to Parliament Standing Orders, only responses made on the floor in the House make part of the hansard, meaning that responding to the SONA outside Parliament cannot be recognized by the National Assembly.
The move by Navicha follows the Speaker’s decision to allow Mulanje Central MP Kondwani Nankhumwa respond to the SONA in the house as Leader of Opposition, in respect to a court injunction that he obtained.
Navicha and over 18 other members Of Parliament have been barred from the House till Thursday following chaos in the House on Monday in protest of the Speaker’s decision to allow Nankhumwa respond as leader of opposition and that Navicha should respond later as Leader of DPP.
Reported by Beatrice Mwape
