Former Speaker of the National Assembly Henry Chimunthu Banda has distanced himself from rumours hovering on the social media linking him to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) running mate position in the 2019 elections.
Banda took a break from frontline politics in 2013, following his defeat to President Peter Mutharika during the party’s convention in the race to choose its candidate in the 2014 Tripartite Elections.
But recently Banda has been spotted on several meetings organized by the ruling DPP with the recent one being the rally held in Mangochi on Saturday.
His return has attracted debate with others saying that is being considered for 2019 running mate position.
Speaking in an interview with one of the local daily papers, Chimunthu Banda quashed the rumours.
“There is nothing of that nature. But again which party can begin talking about running mate issue two years before the elections? You know the local politics, nowhere have issues of running mate been discussed and resolved two years before polling,” Banda was quoted in the Nation newspaper.
Chimunthu Banda made headlines in 2013 when he openly challenged Mutharika during the convention by vying for Presidency.
This did not please some DPP supporters who described him as a traitor.
