JB denies meeting Mutharika at Sanjika Palace

Former President Dr. Joyce Banda has distanced herself from rumours hovering on the social media indicating that she had an audience with President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika at Sanjika Palace in the commercial capital Blantyre.

On Saturday, the social media was awash with reports that Banda met Mutharika where they agreed to work together in the forthcoming tripartite election.

According to the reports, Banda was accompanied by her son Roy Kachale who is also People’s Party (PP) Vice President for the South.

In a statement released on Sunday PP Deputy Spokesperson Ackson Kalaile Banda has trashed the claims, saying the rumours are their to frustrate PP supporters.

“Peoples Party wishes to refute in strongest terms rumours making rounds in various digital platforms that its leader and former State President Dr Joyce Banda – accompanied by PP Vice President (East) Hon Roy Kachale Banda- had a meeting with incumbent President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika within the week.

“On the said day, (Thursday) Dr Banda was travelling by road from Lilongwe to Zomba via Liwonde,and her schedule only involved interacting with party members along the route,” said Banda.

He added: “Worse still, the unfounded rumours mention Hon. Roy Kachale Banda who has been out of the country for the past weeks on official duties at Pan African Parliament in South Africa and only returned on Saturday, two days after the alleged meeting.

“The party hereby disassociates itself from such rumours coming from few desperate individuals that are only aimed at confusing party supporters into doubting the party’s stand as it prepares for the 2019 elections.”

The party has since call upon its supporters not to be blinded and distracted by such rumours.