PP civil war: Msonda ‘detained’ as Khumbo ‘thugs’ disrupt meeting

The People’s Party (PP) is now into a bitter civil war with former vice president Khumbo Kachali and Rev Christopher Mzomela Ngwira are fighting the rank and file with the latest meltdown on Friday in Mzuzu at Victory Temple where “thugs” disputed a meeting organised by secretary general Ibrahim Matola to prepare the return of party founder Joyce Banda.

Thugs disrupted the meeting and “detained” PP spokesman Ken Msonda to give them “allowances” and transport reimbursements.

Matola said the meeting was organised to brief members of the return of Banda and series of meetings lined up to rejuvenate the party.

But party members said Kachali had earlier bankrolled controversial Mzomera to pay thugs to disrupt the meeting.

Mzomera confirmed that indeed the meeting was disrupted, saying he is in charge of the party in the north and maintained that Kachali is acting leader.

“I am taking orders from Khumbo Kachali, he is the acting leader of PP,” said Mzomera.

Kachali played down such assertions, saying he has come back in frontline PP politics to help rebuild the party and that Banda remained the legitimate leader.

“The party has the hierarchy and Joyce Banda is president; some of us we are members. We need to listen to senior party members, but we need the party to grow,” said Kachale on Friday during Daybreak Malawi programme on Capital Radio.

He also said the return of Banda is “good news” for the party.

But regional members in Mzuzu who spoke to Nyasa Times accused Kachali of being a “serpent” who is bankrolling infighting behind closed doors with Mzomera as his errand boy.

Ironically, Kachali was dropped as running mate by Banda after Mzomera  told her allegations  that the former vice president planned to assassinate her and ascend to presidency.

Banda reportedly asked Kachali about the claims in the presence of Mzomera and some northern region chiefs. Mzomera maintained his claim.

No permanent enemies in politics, so they say, and the two -Kachali and Mzomera – are now fighting a common cause.