Two opposition Members of Parliament were arrested while performing official committee duties, prompting accusations that the independence and safety of the legislature are under threat and a parliamentary boycott by the main opposition party.
Opposition leaders said the arrests — of two MPs who serve on the Budget and Transport committees — took place during formal committee work and were made on allegations of corruption. They accused Speaker Sameer Suleman of failing to protect Parliament and urged him to press the Inspector General of Police for the MPs’ immediate release.
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“This is not just about two MPs. This is about the safety of every Member of Parliament. If MPs can be arrested in the middle of official committee work, then Parliament itself is under threat,” said Chithyola Banda, leader of the Opposition. Banda represents the Malawi Congress Party, which has declared a boycott of parliamentary meetings until the detained MPs are released.
The opposition’s public complaint centers on two linked claims: that the arrests occurred while the MPs were carrying out legislative duties and that the Speaker did not intervene to uphold parliamentary privilege and the institution’s independence. Details about the time, location of the arrests and the identities of the detained MPs were not disclosed in the initial opposition statement beyond their committee roles.
Key facts released by the opposition:
- Two opposition MPs were arrested during committee proceedings.
- The MPs serve on the Budget Committee and the Transport Committee.
- They face allegations of corruption, according to opposition statements.
- The Malawi Congress Party has announced a boycott of parliamentary business until the MPs are released.
The boycott raises the prospect of immediate disruption to scheduled parliamentary business, particularly oversight responsibilities tied to the Budget and Transport committees. Opposition leaders framed the arrests as a challenge to parliamentary autonomy and an issue of personal safety for lawmakers carrying out official duties.
Opposition calls for action focused on Speaker Suleman, who was urged to intervene with the Inspector General of Police to secure the MPs’ release and to affirm protections for legislators acting in their official capacities. The opposition framed its boycott as a measure to pressure authorities and to draw public attention to what it described as an erosion of legislative independence.
The situation is developing; the opposition statement did not include comment from the Speaker’s office or the police, and no timetable was provided for the MPs’ release or for when the boycott might end. Parliamentary proceedings remain in flux as the dispute unfolds.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
