PP disowns Mzomera on Khumbo’s leadership

The People’s Party (PP) has disowned remarks made by its Provincial Chairman for the North, Reverend Mzomera Ngwira, the former vice president Khumbo Kachali has been installed as interim leader of the party in the absence of Joyce Banda who is currently abroad.

Ngwira said in Mzuzu on Monday when welcoming Kachali back in the PP fold that the former vice president is now the interim leader of PP.

He claimed the decision was reached at a National Executive Committee meeting.

But 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.

In a media statement signed by the party’s Secretary General Ibrahim Matola made available to Nyasa Times on Tuesday, the PP says Ngwira’s claims do not reflect the position of the party in as far as its leadership is concerned.

Matola explained that PP held a regional party meeting in Mzuzu last Monday to welcome back Kachali as a vice president not as a replacement to Joyce Banda.

“It is only at the Party’s National Convention that decisions like this one are made. The People’s Party 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,” the statement reads in part.

However, the party expressed delight at the return of Kachali and at his commitment to help the party “grow to greater heights.”