JB withdraws Mzomera’s dismissal

Former president Joyce Banda has reversed the dismissal of Northern Region provincial governor the Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira from her People’s Party (PP) as confusion continues to reign in the former governing party.

Banda’s U-turn comes barely days after PP secretary general Ibrahim Matola issued an expulsion letter to Ngwira and provincial chairlady Cliffer Kondowe after the two allegedly led a group of youths to disrupt a meeting Matola and other party leaders organised in the Northern Region to prepare for the return of their leader.

However, Banda has reversed Matola’s decision, noting the two were not given a chance to defend themselves before their purported expulsion. The duo is set to appear before a disciplinary committee in Lilongwe.

Reads in part the letter signed by Matola: “You are, therefore, being invited to appear before the party disciplinary subcommittee on Friday 11th September, 2015, 10am at Maranatha Lodge, Area 47 near Bwandilo in Lilongwe.”

Asked whether he was ready to appear before the disciplinary committee, Mzomera said yesterday he would only do so if PP spokesperson Ken Msonda and Matola were not part of the team.

He, however, said he was ready to appear before the meeting if he was assured that the communication indeed came from Banda and not Matola.

Commenting on the development, Chancellor College political scientist Blessings Chinsinga said unless Banda, who has been abroad since losing the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections, returns home or hands over leadership to another person, misunderstandings will never cease in PP.

The expulsion of Mzomera and Kondowe came days after the party also suspended its administrative secretary the Reverend Peter Kaleso for indiscipline and replaced him with Msonda in acting capacity.

Misunderstandings between the party and Ngwira started after he declared that in the absence of Banda, the party was now under its former vice-president Khumbo Kachali