Khumbo Kachale to take over PP presidency

Former vice-president Khumbo Kachale is on his way to Mzuzu Victory Temple where he is expected to be made interim leader of Peoples Party, Nation Online can reveal .

A few minutes ago, PP regional governor Mzomera Ngwira announced that the PP, former ruling party, is reorganising to restore its lost glory with or without its founding president Joyce Banda.

According to him, the party’s executive has settled for Kachale to bridge the gap left by Banda’s lengthy stay outside Malawi which spans over a year since she lost the presidency to Peter Mutharika in May last year.

In an exclusive interview with Nation Online, Ngwira confirmed: “It’s Khumbo! We don’t know how long Dr Banda will stay abroad. It may be a year or two. But she is aware of our plans to rebuild the party with Khumbo on the throne.”

Kachali returns to the party as a prodigal son after being sidelined by the party just before the elections last year when he endorsed JB’s main contender and successor Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Ngwira said Kachali remained PP despite being striped of the party’s vice presidency which went to Mzimba West MP Harry Mkandawire who left the post two months ago after the party reportedly failed to come clear on Cashgate accusation.

JB has been named as a witness by former Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambala and suspect Oswald Lutepo in a cobweb of trials relating to the looting of billions of kwacha at Capital Hill.

Women have since filed outside the Victory Temple Hall to welcome Kachali whose coming has been touted as a new beginning and the party’s rise from over a year of inaction.

Songs, drumming, dancing and speeches of rebirth are the prevalent mood at the make-or-break meeting where the press was banished from ongoing deliberations.