Ibrahim Matola is a Liberal Politician Born (2 March 1972) Currently serving as Minister of Energy in the Office and Cabinet of Malawi. Matola previously was serving as the Chairman of the southern Region water board after being appointed by the President.

National assembly

As the leader of the UDF in the National Assembly, Matola has criticized the government for ignoring the concerns of the minority parties. Though the UDF was the governing party from 1994 to 2004, it currently the second largest opposition party with only fifteen out of the one hundred ninety four seats in the National Assembly. He has expressed concern that Malawi is returning to a one–party system. He has been vocally critical of the leadership of the majority

Democratic Progressive Party The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a Taiwanese nationalist and centre-left political party in the Republic of China (Taiwan). Controlling both the Republic of China presidency and the unicameral Legislative Yuan, it is the majori ...

, accusing them of "raping the country". During some particularly contentious debates, such as the debate regarding whether to change the

Flag of Malawi The flag of Malawi ( Chichewa: ''mbendera ya Malaŵi'') was officially adopted on 6 July 1964 when the colony of Nyasaland became independent from British rule and renamed itself Malawi. Design The first flag of independent Malawi was adopted ...

, Matola has participated in

walkout In labor disputes, a walkout is a labor strike, the act of employees collectively leaving the workplace and withholding labor as an act of protest. A walkout can also mean the act of leaving a place of work, school, a meeting, a company, or an ...

s of minority party members. During debates in the National Assembly he has clashed with

George Chaponda George T. Chaponda (born 1 November 1942) is a Malawian career diplomat and politician who served as Malawi's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development from 2016 to 2017. He is a founding member of the ruling Democratic Progres ...

. Matola has criticized Chaponda's record while serving with the UDP. He has traveled to the

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in Brussels and to the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...

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for the International Parliamentary Seminar.

Political positions

Matola has advocated for the rights of farmers in Malawi. He has also raised concerns that the

Freedom of the Press Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic News media, media, especially publication, published materials, should be conside ...

in Malawi is being threatened. Matola has repeatedly clashed with the national chairman of the UDF,

Friday Jumbe Friday Anderson Jumbe (born 4 April 1955) is a Malawian economist and politician who served in the government of Malawi as Minister of Finance and Economic Planning under President Bakili Muluzi, representing the United Democratic Front. Ear ...

. He led the UDF legislatures in a vote of no confidence in Jumbe and the election of George Nga Ntafu to replace him. Matola has also attacked the 2011 Local Courts bill, arguing that it would provide too much power to local chiefs and could devolve into a "draconian system".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matola, Ibrahim United Democratic Front (Malawi) politicians Living people Members of the National Assembly (Malawi) 1972 births