Former vice president Khumbo Kachali, who is also member of Parliament for Mzimba South West, said he respects Joyce Banda as leader of the People’s Party (PP) and Uladi Mussa as the interim president of the party.
Speaking in an interview with The Daily Times Tuesday on a number of issues about the PP, Kachali said the party already has a leader and should be respected.
“Political positions are supposed to be contested and people should elect people but if there is someone already on that position, respect [them], so I shall respect Joyce Banda as president of People’s Party and Uladi Mussa as the interim leader, if someone wished to contest on such positions, it is the convention that gives positions to people.
“My brother, the most important thing now is to build PP and not [fight for] positions, since PP lost the elections what we need is to regain the lost glory, it’s not the question of this one having this position but to rebuild it. Whether it is Khumbo Kachali or Uladi Mussa, the most important thing is to lead the party to victory. We need to support one another,” he said.
Asked whether he was supporting Mussa who is the interim leader, Kachali said:
“Of course, why not, I am a Member of Parliament and he is also leader of the PP in Parliament. If he invites PP MPs, I go and he chairs the meeting so I respect him as a leader and I respect any person who is a leader in PP even my district governor. That’s how I am.”
There have been reports that Kachali and outspoken Christopher Mzomera Ngwira are creating parallel structures in the party but Kachali could neither deny nor confirm saying everyone is entitled to their opinion.
“I have no control over anyone’s opinion, but get it from me, you have a leader, respect that person I have myself been a leader in various parties so I know what it is to be a leader,” he said.
Kachali has also denied that he is using Ngwira who refuses to accept Mussa’s position as interim leader. Ngwira insists that Kachali is the rightful person to lead the party.
Since the appointment of Mussa and Kamlepo Kalua as interim president and third vice president respectively, there has been unrest in the PP especially in the Northern Region where a camp, believed to be that of Kachali and Ngwira, has been battling with the Mussa camp.
They claim that Mussa and Kalua were appointed in their positions unilaterally and they are not the choice of PP.
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