Khumbo quits PP, sources claim he is joining DPP

Vice-President Khumbo Kachali has finally resigned from President Joyce Banda’s governing People’s Party (PP) where he served as vice-president, but remains State Vice-President.

Kachali reportedly communicated to the party verbally on Tuesday on the understanding that written communication would follow.

PP and State House sources yesterday said Kachali met the President at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe where it is said he communicated his decision to quit the party, with only few days to the May 20 Tripartite Elections.

Presidential press secretary Steven Nhlane on Wednesday confirmed the meeting between Banda and the Vice-President, but said what was discussed between the two was not disclosed to him.

Said Nhlane: “He is the Vice-President and they talk to each other, and we may not know everything they discuss.”

However, other sources claimed that Kachali is making a return to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) where he is reportedly set to join the electoral campaign in the remaining 12 days.

Kachali could not pick calls on his mobile phone on Wednesday, but at one point, a person who answered his mobile phone said the Vice-President was in a meeting.

In an earlier interview with The Nation, Kachali said he was no longer accompanying the President during her functions because he was not the running mate and was busy fighting for a parliamentary seat in his Mzimba South West. He is registered as a PP candidate in the elections.

PP top brass such as acting secretary general Paul Maulidi and acting publicity secretary Ken Msonda said they were not aware about the development.

But apart from State House sources, two senior PP officials, who did not want to be named, but claimed to have been present during Tuesday’s meeting, confirmed the Vice-President’s verbal resignation.

The PP officials said Kachali made the formal resignation during the meeting.

On the other hand, PP national executive committee (NEC) member Elias Wakuda Kamanga, who said he was away in Kasungu, said he had heard “a strong rumour” that Kachali was leaving PP.

Kachali’s resignation follows that of Cassim Chilumpha and Mohammad Sidik Mia who were PP vice-presidents responsible for the Central and Southern regions respectively.

Banda left out Kachali as a running mate and opted for Industry and Trade Minister Sosten Gwengwe. Kachali described Banda’s move as a vote of no confidence in him.

Banda and Kachali were expelled from DPP in December 2010 for allegedly forming parallel party structures. However, the two were on record as having said their dismissal was because they refused to endorse the presidential candidature of current DPP leader Peter Mutharika.

In April 2012, Banda ascended to the presidency in line with constitutional order after the death of former president the late Bingu wa Mutharika and picked Kachali as her Vice-President.