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Khumbo explains absence, MCP link

Malawi’s Vice-President Khumbo Kachali has explained his absence from President Joyce Banda’s official engagements, saying he is neither a running mate nor presidential candidate in the May 20 Tripartite Elections to be accompanying his boss.

Speaking in a telephone interview on Wednesday, Kachali, who was appointed vice-president in April 2012 after Banda ascended to the presidency in line with constitutional order following the death of former president Bingu wa Mutharika, said he has a parliamentary seat to fight for in Mzimba South-West Constituency.

Kachali conferring with Banda during good old days
Kachali conferring with Banda during good old days

Ironically, Kachali, who was expelled from the then governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) alongside Banda in December 2010 for allegedly forming parallel structures, started shunning Banda’s rallies soon after the President picked Minister of Industry and Trade Sosten Gwengwe as her running mate on the People’s Party (PP) ticket.

He has since attended a few functions in the Northern Region.

Kachali’s absence at presidential functions has raised a lot of suspicions and fuelled speculation in some sections of society with others questioning his loyalty to PP and linking him with a possible move to Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

He said he cannot abandon his campaign to attend the President’s rallies because he wants to return to Parliament come May 20.

Kachali said he cannot be in other constituencies campaigning for other people when he is contesting in Mzimba South-West Constituency. He said he has to be close to his people and address a number of issues in his constituency.

Said Kachali: “Why should I be campaigning for others when I am also a candidate? We are in campaign time. I cannot leave campaigning here to attend rallies. Do you know where I am at the moment? I am in the constituency campaigning.”

Kachali said only running mates and presidential candidates have to be in every district or constituency campaigning because they need votes from across the country.

He wondered why people should be talking about his not accompanying Banda when other candidates in Central and Southern regions are not on the road with Banda.

Kachali described his link to MCP as rumours, adding it is the price he has to pay for ascending to the position of vice-president. He said as vice-president, people will speculate a number of things and he cannot waste time reacting to such rumours.

He said he is loyal to PP and that is why he is contesting on PP ticket. He dismissed reports that he is failing to go to MCP because he already presented his nomination papers, a thing that cannot be reversed.

“I always make decisions on my own and I don’t need to act on rumours. I don’t work on rumours. Should I be moved because somebody says this?

“I don’t care about that. People will say whatever they want to say. It is a price I have to pay for being the vice-president. The truth will set me free one day,” said Kachali.

MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said MCP has never been in discussions with Kachali on the possibility of his joining the party. However, she said Kachali is welcome any time he wants to join MCP.

In another development, Kachali has donated K1million (about $2 500) to vendors who lost their merchandise in a fire that gutted Mzuzu Main Market.

 

 

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