Malawi VP Kachali barred from PP North conference
President Joyce Banda’s want-away deputy Khumbo Kachali failed to attend a ruling Peoples Party (PP) conference in Mzuzu after PP Provincial Secretary for the north Mary Mphasi had invited him but was later told he was unwelcome.
Mphasi invited Kachali without the blessings of the party’s top brass and was forced to rescind her decision after Kachali had already landed in Mzuzu, Nyasa Times understands.
The meeting, which northern region PP chair Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira chaired, had all PP aspirants in north, district and provincial officials and was meant to plan for President Banda’s visit to the northern region.
Ngwira confirmed the development but brushed it aside as a minor logistical incident.
Sources said Mphasi invited both Raymond Nkhata an independent candidate for the Mzimba South West constituency and Kachali who is on the PP ticket in the same constituency.
“Mphasi is under fire and they have labelled her a Kachali sympathizer,” the source said.
Banda, who is also PP’s presidential candidate in the May 20, 2014 Tripartite Elections, unveiled Industry and Trade Minister Sosten Gwengwe as her running mate for during the polls instead of Kachali.
Apparently, Kachali is disillusioned by the President’s decision
He said the decision by President Banda was “a vote of no confidence” in him.
On why she did not pick Kachali who is also first President of the ruling PP, President Banda said she had an agreement with Kachali to serve together for two years.
Among other issues, the Mzuzu PP conference debated the party’s impending manifesto launch in Mzuzu on Sunday.
Arguments arose on the venue of the launch with some vying for the open spaced Mzuzu upper stadium while others wanted the 5,000 seat Mzuzu Stadium.
Apparently, some officials want the Mzuzu stadium and want the gates controlled to avoid PP supporters trooping out to hunt for food like what happened at the Lilongwe launch.
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