VP personally apologises to Malawians

Malawi Vice-President Khumbo Kachali on Tuesday made a public apology over remarks he made last week in the northern Malawi district of Karonga, described by analysts as an insult to Malawians.

Kachali offered his unconditional apology at Kanthete Primary School at Engalaweni in Mzimba where he addressed a campaign rally for by-elections in the area.

“Yesterday [Monday], I offered an unconditional apology and total retraction over the remarks I made at Lupaso in Karonga. I hereby personally offer my sincere apology and retraction of all the remarks that I made. I apologise to all Malawians unconditionally and regret the pain the remarks caused to all,” said the VP, in a brief statement later released by his office.

Kachali’s public apology comes amid criticism from the public, notably through social media platforms, that the initial apology, issued by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, could not be taken as sincere as it came from a third party.

Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito, who called for Kachali’s firing on Monday, earlier asked the VP to apologise through a public rally and not the Ministry of Information and Civic Education.

Kachali is on record to have responded to accusations that President Joyce Banda and himself were travelling too much. He is alleged to have challenged the critics, saying he and the President do not visit their mothers’ and fathers’ homes.