Malawi's Mutharika turns to court in vice president row

[ByaseL]

Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has turned to the courts in his deepening feud with his deputy, his lawyer said Wednesday, in a move aimed at finding a way to push her from office.

Mutharika sacked his Vice President Joyce Banda from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in December in the fallout of a battle over the future leadership of the party.

She went on to form her own People's Party but remains in office as the nation's vice president.

Mutharika has now asked a high court if she has "resigned" as vice president by forming her own opposition party, state attorney Allan Ntata told AFP.

He wants the court to decide if "a sitting vice president can become a president of an opposition political party, which subsequently fields candidates against the ruling party in elections."

The court was also asked to consider if a vice president can "work against her own government and constantly fail to attend cabinet meetings and still be considered a legitimate and continuing vice president."

"The word resign is an important question that needs to be sorted out. Our constitution was done in a rush and it does not answer these questions. We want the court to clarify this," Ntata said.

If the court rules that Banda has resigned, Mutharika would be able to appoint a new vice president to serve out the rest of her term.

 

[Kinyungu]

Huyu nae akiwa raisi si aliunda chama kinachopinga na kile kilichomweka madarakani? sasa analalama nini? Au Mkuki kwa nguruwe?

 

[mfianchi]

Maraisi wa nchi za kiafrika bana wana matatizo makubwa sijui ni ulimbukeni au kulewa madaraka,kwanza wanapoingia madarakani huingia na ahadi tamu tamu na kuwa waungwana l,akini jinsi wanavyozoea uraisi basi mambo huanza kubadilika hadi mwishowe huwa kero kwa hao waliomuweka madarakani,wanajisahau kuwa wao ni waajiriwa wa wananchi,utawasikia kauli zao ''mimi ndie raisi''hakuna wa kunipinga ,kila kitu mimi,mimi,mimi.
Kila nikiangalia maraisi wa nchi zetu hizi sioni aliye na afadhali wote wana sifa zinazofanana kama vile ubinafsi,kujirimbikizia mali,ghiriba