Civil war in PP escalates, havoc in Mzuzu: Uladi accuses Khumbo, Mzomera of sponsoring violence

Former governing People’s Party (PP) was plunged into a bitter civil war Sunday when factions clashed as regional meeting in Mzuzu over the appointment of Uladi Mussa as acting president and third vice-president Kamlepo Kalua.

Mussa alongside PP secretary general Ibrahim Matola, vice-president (finance and administration) Ralph Jooma, third vice-president Kamlepo Kalua and other senior members organised a  regional conference in Mzuzu at Anglican Hall.

But officials from other faction led by former regional governor Rev Christopher Mzomera Ngwira and former vice president Khumbo Kachali caused mayhem and attacked the supporters of Mussa.

Forcing him and party MPs  to seek refuge at Alliance for Democracy (Aford) president Enoch Chihana’s house at Kaning’ina in the city.

However, Kalua did not get intimidated with the fight  and proceededto the meeting and address the delegates. He said there is need for the warring camps in the region to unite.

Mussa accused Mzomera Ngwira and Kachali for organising and sponsoring violence.

“They organised thugs to cause fracas,” said Mussa.

“Right honourable Khumbo Kachali through the Reverend Mzomera Ngwira  organised thugs, not members of the party, giving out T-shirts. We know their names. These are the ones obstructing everybody chasing people right there not to attend our meeting at the hall,” claimed Mussa.

Mussa said Kachali and Ngwira “are unhappy” with his appointment acting leader.

“I had to cancel the meeting in the interest of peace. They want violence, we will not give them that,” he said.

He claimed Kachali “is too jealous with my appointment.”

But Kachali has dismissed the accusations , saying he is not interested in being PP leader, saying he would only want to rejuvenate the party.

“I don’t wish to lead PP as expressed through the opinion of Mussa, what I want is to see the  party grow,” said Kachali.

Mussa said PP leadership will sort out the differences “amicably.”

“Politics is my hobby, is my profession it’s my career, we will find the way forward,” said Mussa.

“Those who are not happy, it’s their problem. I have no problem. Ine ndilibe problem,” the PP acting president said.

But PP regional secretary for north, in Ngwira’s camp Clive Nthakomwa said Mussa should reinstate the original committees in the north before he starts conducting meetings.

He rejected allegations that they have received money from Kachali to cause confusion in PP.

“That is a total blue eye. We have not been given a single coin,” said Nthakomwa.

He accused party founder Joyce Banda of continuing to violate the party’s constitution by “handpicking” Mussa and Kalua, who is also Rumphi East member of Parliament (MP).

Nthakomwa said all they want is for Banda to respect the PP constitution by letting members to elect leaders and not her  to make appointments on her own.

PP, which rose to power in April 2012 after its president, Banda, ascended to the presidency in line with constitutional order following Bingu’s death, lost the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections.

During the elections, Banda came third after winner Peter Mutharika of DPP and second-placed Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in the presidential race.

PP got 26 seats in the 193-member National Assembly distributed as follows: 14 in the Northern Region, eight in the Southern Region and four in the Central Region.

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