By Jones Gadama
Voting is currently underway in the National Assembly to elect a new Speaker of Parliament, with four candidates vying for the coveted position.
Mulanje Central legislator Kondwani Nankhumwa’s bid was rendered invalid after he submitted his nomination papers late, leaving three other hopefuls in the running.
Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba announced Nankhumwa’s disqualification, citing Parliamentary Standing Orders that stipulate only four members can be nominated for the position.
However, with Nankhumwa’s elimination, the contest is now between the remaining four candidates, with Sameer Suleman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Peter Dimba of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) emerging as the top contenders.
A simple majority vote is required to win the Speakership, with 221 members present in the House out of 229 parliamentary seats.
Two members are absent, while six seats remain vacant.
Once the new Speaker is elected, they will oversee the subsequent elections for the First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker positions.
The election process is being presided over by Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba.
The candidates were nominated by their respective party members, with Karonga Central legislator Frank Mwenifumbo nominating Sameer Suleman for the DPP, while Dedza Mulunduni legislator Moses Kunkuyu nominated Peter Dimba for the MCP.
The outcome of the election is expected to shape the legislative agenda and determine the leadership of the National Assembly.
With the presence of prominent candidates, the election is expected to be closely contested, and the winner will play a crucial role in guiding the parliamentary business
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