Anti-Bakili Muluzi / MALAWI POLITICS TODAY

Malawi Supreme Court overules injunction

:: The Southern African

Wednesday, 08 August 2007

President Bingu wa Mutharika LILONGWE – As the tug-of-war continues between President Bingu wa Mutharika’s government and the opposition, the Supreme Court stepped in to overturn an injunction by the High Court that stalled parliamentary sessions until a budget dispute was cleared up. On Sunday, opposition MPs, led by former president, Bakili Muluzi’s United Democratic Front (UDF), were granted the injunction, apparently seeking to stall debate on the national budget. The order was overturned on Wednesday after the Attorney-General argued in court that parliament should be allowed to meet and approve the budget that has been delayed by a political row over the defection of opposition MPs to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Earlier this week, police raided the home of Judge Joseph Mwanyungwe, who issued the injunction barring the speaker of parliament from reconvening the house. UDF MP, Leonard Mangulama and independent MP, Gerald Mponda obtained the injunction on Sunday. Opposition MPs have been refusing to discuss the budget unless some 70 odd legislators who switched to President Mutharika’s party are expelled. News of the injunction prompted demonstrations in which people threw stones at the parliament building and barricaded the MPs inside for more than five hours. The current political impasse began in June, when the Supreme Court ruled that the speaker of parliament can expel MPs who switch parties. Most members of Mutharika's party were elected on the ticket of the UDF. Mutharika also won elections for the UDF, but left to set up the DPP, accusing UDF officials of blocking his anti-corruption drive