Maravi

Convicted Katele takes leave from MMD duties

Convicted Katele takes leave from MMD duties
By Patson Chilemba
Thu 10 June 2010, 14:20 CAT

CONVICTED MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has gone on leave after he recently asked President Rupiah Banda to stay away from running party affairs until his corruption cases were disposed off by the High Court. MMD sources disclosed that Kalumba asked to be excused from carrying out party functions following his conviction on corruption charges by the magistrates’ court.

"He is on leave. He said because of the happenings, the outcome from the court, so he asked the President Rupiah that he goes on leave until such a time when the High Court will determine his case," revealed the MMD sources.

"He suggested that the deputy national secretary continues in his Kalumba's place."

And when contacted to find out when Kalumba would be back in office, MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu said: "I have not idea. I have not seen anything. I have no idea absolutely. I have not even talked to him. He was not reachable so I couldn't get anything. But I believe the national executive committee NEC will seat and find what is the way forward."

Several MMD members had in the recent past called on Kalumba to step aside from active politics now that he was a convict.

Recently, Kalumba, former finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda, defunct Access Financial Services Limited (AFSL) directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu were handed a five year jail sentence each for corruption at the Lusaka magistrates court.

The court also jailed former finance ministry chief economist Bede Mphande, former finance ministry director of budget Boniface Nonde and former secretary to the treasury Professor Benjamin Mweene for five years but suspended for 24 months.

However, Kalumba, Chibanda, Chungu and Kabwe were later granted K500 million bail each pending appeal.

Labels: CORRUPTION, KATELE KALUMBA

posted by MrK @ 4:06 PM