By Eric Chiputula:
It never rains but pours for the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as lawyers for the party’s Vice President for the Southern Region Kondwani Nankhumwa and three other senior official are demanding K87 million from the party in legal fees.
According to a court document that we have seen, the lawyers Chidothe and Chidothe are demanding the MK87 million following a court ruling that went in favour of Nankhumwa, Party Secretary General Grezelder Jeffrey, Treasure General Jappie Mhango and Mulanje West Parliamentarian Yusuf Nthenda who were challenging their expulsion from the party.
The won the case with costs.
The four dragged the party to court after they were expelled over what the party called gross indiscipline.
However in its ruling, High Court of Malawi Judge Simeon Mdeza which reinstated him and Jeffrey into the party and their positions.
The Judge faulted the party in the manner it handled the issue and ordered party President Peter Mutharika to call for national governing council (NGC) and central committee meetings within reasonable time.
Now the claimant’s lawyers have penned the court demanding MK87 million from the former ruling party as legal fees.
Meanwhile the court has set September 1, 2022 as the day it will hear arguments for assessment of costs demanded by the claimants.
The former ruling party is no stranger to court battles.
Since losing the June 2020 Fresh Presidential battles the party has been fighting one court battle after another.
