Zodiak understands that Nankhumwa has written Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, asking her to halt the process of recognizing Chaponda as leader of opposition, as there is a standing court injunction against such a decision.

According to Nankhumwa’s lawyer, Wapona Kita, the injunction which was obtained by 23 DPP MPs in 2022, challenging an earlier appointment of Chaponda on the basis that they were not accorded the right to vote, still stands and any action by the party against it, is tantamount to contempt of court.

“There is a letter that I wrote to parliament on instruction from my client reminding them that there is an order of injunction which stops DPP from replacing Honourable Nankhumwa with Honourable Chaponda as leader of opposition in parliament,” said Kita.

“So as far as we are concerned that order has not been lifted it is still valid until the court gives another order then Honourable Nankhumwa ought to be recognized as leader of opposition,” he added.

Two weeks ago, DPP expelled the Mulanje Central Parliamentarian and several other officials from the party over issues bordering on indiscipline.

The party further requested the office of the speaker of parliament to replace Nankhumwa with Dr Chaponda as leader of opposition.

DPP officials were not readily available for a comment on the new developments but some senior officials close to the party leadership have told us that the DPP will not relent in the attempt to remove Nankhumwa, arguing he is no longer a member of the main opposition party.

When contacted, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara neither confirmed nor denied the new developments on the matter.