Last-minute candidate Honorable Yeremiah Chihana has cried foul over the southern region caucus’ decision to back the Zimbabwean Chief Senator Fortune Charumbira’s candidacy for the President and speaker of the African Parliament.
The controversial Mzimba North MP who has a record of provocation in his home parliament, has accused South Africa of bias for endorsing a candidate from Zimbabwe.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Hon. Yeremiah Chihana said, “South Africa as a host country has shown bias towards Zimbabwe. South Africa is an independent country, they should have shown maturity and remember that they are a host country. When the sitting became hostile, members from the other countries decided to move out because we did not accept Pemmy Majodina as a candidate or ad hoc chair because it has been shown that the arrangement is provided by the camp in Harare that is fighting.”
Hon. Chihana was elected as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Malawi this February. It is reported that he officially presented his intention to contend to the Malawian parliament three weeks before the continental body’s election. It is also reported that that Hon. Chihana threw in his bid as Sen. Chief Charumbira was rounding off a year-long campaign with diplomatic trips around the continent.
The southern caucus has remained consistent in nominating Zimbabwe’s Chief Charumbira’s candidacy. In 2018, Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira emerged the stronger contender garnering 26 against 16 votes to represent Southern Africa in his bid for PAP Presidency.
Zimbabwe is now more likely to lead the Pan African Parliament (PAP) after the African Union Commission has thrown its weight behind the principle of rotation for the position of Parliamentary President which has been occupied by Western and Eastern African countries since the inception of the continental body in 2004.
