VP Kachali defies Malawi govt directive: Gives K1m to Mzuzu vendors

President Joyce Banda’s want-away deputy Khumbo Kachali came out of his cocoon and condoled vendors in Mzuzu with MK1 million cash relief effectively defying a directive from the Office of President that donations have to be made to the city council.

In 2012, Kachali also donated MK200,000 to vendors from Luwinga market after fire gutted part of the market destroying nine shops and merchandise worth approximately MK4 million.

In the Mzuzu incident, fire thought to have originated from a brazier (Mbaula) in one of the makeshift restaurants razed the central part of Mzuzu market on Saturday evening effectively putting out of business more than 150 vendors.

The Council collects more than MK100,000 as revenue from the market.

On Sunday morning, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural development Godfrey Kanyama and Sports Minister Enock Chihana caught the early bird to meet the affected vendors.

The duo was followed by opposition UDF second vice President Victoria Mponela, who also met the affected vendors.

Kanyama, while promising swift government action in reconstruction, cautioned well-wishers especially politicians to channel their donations through Mzuzu City Council to avoid politicisation of the tragedy.

Later Kachali trooped into the burnt market and said he was touched with what happened.

He then gave out MK1 million cash to Mzuzu Vendors asking other well-wishers to emulate his gesture.

At a news conference at his Chimaliro Home, Kachali’s personal assistant responsible for political affairs Oliver Ndhlovu said the Veep was not aware of the directive.

“It’s not deliberate. It’s only that he could not have left the vendors with nothing,” Ndhlovu said.

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