By Chisomo Phiri
Dust is refusing to rest in the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Kondwani Nankhumwa and two others have appealed to the Supreme Court against High Court’s ruling on their new roles in the party.
Nankhumwa,Cecelia Chazama, now the party president, Peter Mutharika’s advisors and Gelzeder Jeffrey vice president for central initially dragged the party and their leader to court protesting a decision to either remove or replace them.
The trio argued the move violated their political and constitutional rights as it stripped them of their mandated powers during the party’s National Political Conference in July 2018.
But High Court Judge Howard Pemba dismissed their application with costs; arguing they failed to demonstrate good and arguable claim for the right they seek to protect.
However,247 Malawi News understands that the three have now stormed the Supreme Court of Appeal against the verdict.
Their lawyer, Cassius Chodothi confirms that his clients are not satisfied with Pemba’s ruling on the matter.
The court is expected to hear their application today, Wednesday.
Currently, some well known political analysts say are surprised how Mutharika would appoint Nankhumwa as his advisor when he has openly vowed to challenge him at convention for the party’s presidency.
They further argued that Article 10(8) of the DPP constitution could be prone to abuse to deal with critics.
The article in question allows the party president to assign new roles to members of the National Governing Council-NGC.
Cracks and court battles in the erstwhile party remain entrenched with less than two years before the country holds another general election.
