Maravi

Police seize 37 MMD vehicles

Police seize 37 MMD vehicles
By Maluba Jere and Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 28 Sep. 2011, 14:20 CAT

POLICE in Lusaka have seized 37 of the many trucks that were being used by the MMD during their campaigns in last week's elections which saw PF's Michael Sata being elected Republican President.

Sources within the police yesterday told The Post that the trucks were seized early this week and police were investigating how the vehicles were brought into the country and whether or not duty was paid on them. The source disclosed that there were about 47 trucks which were shared among MMD officials when it was announced that Rupiah Banda had lost the election.

The source said although there were few vehicles parked at Lusaka Central Police, more were believed to have been taken to different parts of the country.

When contacted for comment, Lusaka police commanding officer Mhlakeni Zulu said the trucks parked at the police were found abandoned by the MMD at their campaign centre in Woodlands while others were discovered at an inactive garage in Koumboka area.

"We found them abandoned so we suspected that they were not meant for a good purpose," he said. "We want to establish how they found themselves not attended to because this is property with value and someone should account for them."

Asked whether the police investigations would be extended to allegations that the trucks were brought into the country without paying duty, Zulu said if those allegations were proved and need arose, Interpol international police would be involved.

"Our concern is to secure it property and if we establish that someone was trying to be funny, we will arrest them," he said.

And captured fugitive, William Banda, has been transferred from Chipata to Lusaka to face charges bordering on inciting violence.

Sources confirmed that a three-vehicle convoy carrying Banda, the MMD Lusaka Province chairperson accused of political violence during the fallen-regime's heyday, arrived in Lusaka at dawn on Tuesday.

"William Banda was brought to the Police Force Headquarters around 03:00 hours this morning. He was brought under tight security. He has now left force headquarters and taken to Lusaka division," a highly placed source said.

Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana also confirmed that Banda had been brought to Lusaka from Chipata because the alleged offence was committed in Lusaka.

Siamana said police were still investigating Banda for allegedly proposing violence during last week's general elections campaigns.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, MMD, PF, VOTERIGGING

posted by MrK @ 4:04 PM