Mzomera denies PP coup, clarifies that ‘JB is not fired’

People’s Party (PP) provincial governor for the north Rev Christopher Mzomera Ngwira has denied to have staged a party leadership coup by deposing founder and its leader Joyce Banda and installing Khumbo Kachali as interim leader, clarifying that Banda “remains legitimate party president.”

Mzomera last week told a rally in Mzuzu that Kachali the interim leader of PP.

He said his statement was sensationalised by the media, citing a headline in the Daily Times which highlighted that PP had fired Banda as “wholly wrong”.

Speaking in interview on Zodiak radio, Mzomera said: “It is not true the way the newspapers are highlighting that Joyce Banda is fired.”

“The legitimate president of Peoples Party is Dr Joyce Banda. Khumbo Kachali is interim leader,” he said.

“Even the laws of Malawi says when the President leaves the country, the vice president becomes acting president,” added Mzomera.

“We want to bring back sanity to the PP so that when Banda returns she should find a strong party. Kachali will lead PP in that direction,” he said.

He denied a leadership coup, saying the media is blowing the matter out of proportion.

“We did not fire Joyce Banda,” stressed Mzomera.

PP secretary general Ibrahim Matola said Kachali has been welcomed back as a vice president not as a replacement to Joyce Banda.

Kachali himself has also said he is not the leader as Banda remains PP president.

The former vice president endorsed President Peter Mutharika during the 2014 general elections when Banda dumped him for Sosten Gwengwe – who has also resigned from PP to rejoin Malawi Congress Party.

According to PP secretary general, the party’s constitution stipulates that the president shall hold office for a period of five years.

Joyce Banda’s mandate runs up to 2017 when her position shall be up for grabs, Matola explained.

Matola, however, said the party would like to express its delight at the return of what he called the estranged VP Kachali who has come back to help the organization grow to greater heights.

Since her party lost the May 20 2013, tripartite elections, Banda has been staying abroad.