The National Assembly debate on national issues was put on hold for a while when some angry opposition members of Parliament failed to hold their temper and began to call the Lilongwe City Central legislature David Bisnowaty ‘ignorant’ of Malawi issues and ‘foreigner’ over remarks relating to late Ngwazi Hastings Kamuzu Banda rule.
Hon Bisnowaty was responding to Lilongwe Rural South legislature Peter Dimba holding the floor. Dimba dispelled allegations that Malawi experienced food shortage and imported maize during Kamuzu era.
Bisnowaty who stood on point of order after Rumphi East Legislature, Kamulepo Kalua had branded the current Government as ‘jokers’, told the house that during the 31 year reign of Hastings Kamuzu Banda, Malawians were suppressed and therefore if there was any food shortages people wouldn’t have known about it and any person would have been in trouble once heard talking about existence of hunger.
But even before Bisnowaty took his seat, some legislatures allegedly from Malawi Congress Party (MCP), shouted at him to sit down while making racism remarks “Khala pansi Iwee! … Ukudziwa chiyani zakuno ku Malawi munthu olowera pa passport ngati iwe!.. Foreigner”
The Racism tirade in the house went out of hand and the Second Deputy Speaker, Clement Chiwaya’s shouts to restore order seemed to have no value at all as another member was heard shouting “Muyuda azipita kwawoooo uyu!
Another angry outburst from the noise was heard; “Akutiyamba dala uyu, Mzimene anakamuuza a DPP zimenezo? Ala!” one legislature shouted.
Rumphi East legislature Kamulepo Kaua stood without being recognized by the Speaker and said “Let us not discriminate against anybody, let us be Malawian, let us show leadership and I don’t prescribe to this no, no, no, no!”
However, Kalua was interrupted both by the speaker who was trying to calm the legislatures and another member who was continuing making racism remarks “Alibe mudzi uyu, alibe munda, akuchitachani kuno, mbava izipita kwawo iyi, Myuda!”
“Honorable members can we avoid discriminatory words that are not parliamentary…” pleaded Chiwaya but was interrupted by another rant, “Ndizoona Dala, Ndizoona Dala alibe mudzi ku Malawi uyu. Amayi ako anapita kuti iweyo,
The continued waves of discriminatory words made the Second Deputy Speaker, Clement Chiwaya to be left with no other option but to ask the leadership of both sides in the National Assembly to help restore order.
“We cannot proceed this way, may I ask leadership on both sides to help us to restore order!” pleaded Chiwaya
“Much as we want to express whatever we want to express let us do it in an orderly manner and at the same time avoid discriminatory words that are not parliamentary” advised Chiwaya
Immediately after the speaker made the directive, another legislature stood up on point of order making another racism remarks “Ndimafuna kuti timuuze kuti alibe manda a aMbuyake asamachite mwano ameneyu!”
However, after some few minutes, the house was back to normal and the Lilongwe Rural South legislature Peter Dimba, was asked to continue holding the floor commenting on number of issues relating to agriculture, food availability in ADMARC markets and current situation of hunger as well as on distribution of Farm Input Subsidy materials.
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