Joyce Banda overrules Ibrahim Matola
Former president and People’s Party (PP) leader Joyce Banda has defied the party’s Secretary General Ibrahim Matola over his decision to expel Northern Province Chairperson Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira and Chairlady Cliffer Kondowe and has since reversed the decision and suspended the two who have also been summoned for a disciplinary hearing on Friday this week in Lilongwe.
Matola expelled Ngwira and Kondowe on Friday for alleged misconduct following ugly scenes that marred a party meeting which Matola failed to address because of a fracas where the party’s Publicity and Administrative Secretary Ken Msonda was roughed up.
Matola alleged that Ngwira organised thugs to kill the delegation, which comprised Matola, Deputy Secretary General Ireen Chikuni, Msonda and National Organising Secretary Salim Bagus, that went to the region to address the meeting.
“When the party President HE Dr. Joyce Banda was communicated to on these sad developments, she directed that in spite of the seriousness of the offence, the two officials should be given an opportunity to
be heard. Therefore, the two officials are not expelled but suspended,” reads the party’s statement dated September 6 2015 and signed by Matola.
“The Secretary General has summoned the two officials to appear before a disciplinary subcommittee. The party has decided that disciplinary hearing should take place on Friday 11th September, 2015 in Lilongwe at 10am,” reads the statement.
In the statement, Matola accuses Ngwira of mobilising drunken thugs to kill the delegation on Friday.
He also accuses Ngwira of blocking party officials from holding meetings in the Northern Region and further accuses him of maintaining that party member Khumbo Kachali is interim president of the party.
“Upon hearing that the Secretary General is in Mzuzu for the meeting, Honourable Christopher Mzomera Ngwira mobilised drunken thugs led by himself with pangas and zibonga; chanting songs demeaning the Secretary General and National Executive Committee (Nec) members who accompanied him.
“In his mood, he repeated that the North belongs to Honourable Khumbo Kachali; his thugs manhandled and abducted the Publicity and Administrative
Secretary Honourable Ken Msonda; in the process, Mr Msonda lost his wristwatch and a pair of shoes. Mr. Msonda was forced to address the meeting in the absence of the Secretary General and other Nec members who accompanied him.
“The Secretary General and the delegation, considering the threats issued by Honourable Christopher Mzomera Ngwira to delegates that blood would spill like July 20, unanimously agreed to expel Honourable Christopher Mzomera Ngwira and Honourable Cliffer Kondowe as Provincial Chairman and Chairlady with immediate effect for gross misconduct,” reads Matola’s statement.
In an interview, Ngwira admitted going with some members to the house where Matola and his delegation had camped.
But he said Matola and the other Nec delegates, apart from Msonda, had escaped from the group.
Ngwira said he went to the house after learning that Matola had cancelled the meeting which he was supposed to address.
He said he panicked as delegates from the districts that had come for the meeting needed money for transport.
Ngwira also admitted that Msonda was made to address the people in the absence of Matola and the other Nec officials. He denied organising thugs.
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