Maravi

(TIMES ZM) ‘Thandiwe was part of MMD team giving T-shirts, money’

‘Thandiwe was part of MMD team giving T-shirts, money’
Written by Davies M.M Chanda Friday, 13 January 2012 07:10

A SECURITY officer has told the Lusaka High Court that former first lady Thandiwe Banda was part of the MMD team that allegedly distributed MMD T-shirts, chitenge material and money to people and patients at St Francis Mission Hospital in Katete.

Another witness told the court that MMD Mkaika Member of Parliament (MP)David Phiri allegedly distributed T-shirts and money on two occasions in his constituency where he urged recipients to vote for him and his political party candidates at presidential and local government levels.

This is in a petition hearing where losing Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Mustapher Banda has asked the Court to nullify Mr Phiri’s election to Parliament.

Dorothy Simushi, 28 a security officer at St Francis Mission Hospital told High Court Judge Elita Mwikisa that on 16 August last year she saw Ms Banda who was in the company of Mr Phiri both clad in MMD regalia allegedly distributed K50,000, and T-shirts to each of the men and chitenge materials to women who were in Kizito Ward at the hospital.

Some of them were patients, while others were on the bedside looking after their relatives.

Ms Simushi said during examination in chief by the petitioner’s lawyer Bokani Soko that earlier that day, she and her colleagues had received

information that the first lady was on her way to visit the hospital and surrounding areas.

She said within a short time, she saw a group of people in MMD regalia among them Mr Phiri and Mrs Banda who went to Kizito ward, a ward where orthopaedics patients are admitted.

Ms Simushi said they later started distributing MMD campaign materials and K50,000 to each of the people in the ward while urging them to vote for MMD candidates.

She said the first lady and Mr Phiri allegedly told the people while making the donations that on September 20, 2011, they should not forget their vote.

And Headman Kaela from Chief Mbang’ombe in Katete District told the court that he witnessed Mr Phiri donating T-shirts and money to people at St Francis Mission Hospital and in a village on different occasions.

Headman Kaela whose names are Matsauso Mbewe told the court that his older brother Moses Mbewe was admitted to St Francis Hospital and he was on his bedside.

He said he saw Mr Phiri allegedly distributing money and T-shirts and also benefitted from the donations.

He said he received the T-shirts and money although he knew that he would not vote for them because he was not supposed to be partisan.

He said he gave the money and T-shirts he received to his brother and his eldest son.

Headman Kaela said he was given K100,000 at the meeting in the village which was attended by headmen Chikutu, Mutalalika, Zonde, Safari, Chakuka, Pulanga, Kalinda and Kafokoye.

When asked during cross examination by one of the respondent’s lawyers Sakwiba Sikota why he received the T-shirts and money when he knew that it was wrong, Headman Kaela said:

"As headmen, we usually receive people who come to give things and since there are our visitors we receive because we are supposed to receive but not to wear them".

He said although he did not report the two incidents to the police, Electoral Commission of Zambia, he told his wife and other people in

the village about the money he was given at the meeting for headmen.

Hearing in the matter continues.

By Times Reporter

Labels: MMD, THANDIWE BANDA

posted by MrK @ 8:29 PM