DPP won’t purge ‘attention seeker’ Kalindo, mend ties

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has mended ties with Mulanje South member of Parliament (MP) Bon Kalindo and reinstated him as party’s deputy spokesman.

DPP spokesperson Francis Kasaila confirmed Kalindo, a comedian widely known by his moniker Winiko, was summoned to a disciplinary hearing at the party’s national headquarters in Lilongwe.

He said the party has not expelled Kalindo as claimed by DPP secretary general Ecklain Kudontoni, who also attended the meeting.

Kasaila said the  meeting was called to establish the basis for Kalindo’s allegations that the party had plotted to kill him.

He said after the meeting, the agreed to mend ties and that Kalindo remains party deputy spokesman.

Kalindo also confirmed that  facesd  a disciplinary panel which  comprised Kasaila, DPP vice-president George Chaponda (Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development), legal adviser Charles Mhango, national campaign director Jappie Mhango (Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security) and deputy secretary general Grace Chiumia (Minister of Sports and Culture).

He also said DPP secretary general Kudontoni and the party’s Southern Region governor Charles Mchacha who publicly dressed him down at the rally addressed by Mutharika in Mulanje where they said Kalindo was not part and parcel of the party – also attended the meeting.

Both Kudontoni and Mchacha, who is also Thyolo West MP, described Kalindo as “an attention seeker”.

Kalindo said he was pleased that the meeting has ironed out the differences, saying he remains DPP members and deputy spokesman.