Maravi

MMD denies using public funds for campaigns

MMD denies using public funds for campaigns
By Mwala Kalaluka
Wed 10 Oct. 2012, 14:30 CAT

MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe says there would have been screaming headlines and the Auditor General's office could have picked it had the party used public funds or proceeds of crime to procure its seized election campaign motor vehicles.

During continued hearing in a High Court matter where the MMD, through Maj Kachingwe, petitioned the state over the seizure of several of the former ruling party's motor vehicles early this year, Maj Kachingwe said no money was obtained from state coffers to buy the motor vehicles in question.

Maj Kachingwe said the MMD was able to procure the motor vehicles because of donors that believed in its free enterprise approach and the levying of its parliamentarians.

"All the motor vehicles they relate to are certified to have complied with customs formalities," said Maj Kachingwe after the MMD lawyer Sakwiba Sikota referred him to the state's bundle of documents relating to customs clearance certificates. "I have seen all the interpol certificates in the bundle. None has a contrary certificate as to the findings of the examiners."

On assertions that other people were claiming the seized motor vehicles, Maj Kachingwe said according to the Road Transport and Safety Agency RTSA application forms, no one was claiming the motor vehicles to be theirs.

Maj Kachingwe said the state and the PF started seizing the motor vehicles in question immediately it was announced that the PF had won the general election and that this was around September 24, 2011.

"The seizure notice was issued after we complained in the papers that they were holding our motor vehicles illegally," Maj Kachingwe said.

"No one has been charged with a crime in relation to the motor vehicles. No one has complained of the loss of money or motor vehicle. There has been no complaint of loss of public funds by anyone."

Maj Kachingwe said the Zambian system does not allow parties to get money from the state for their activities.

"The so-called investigation has been going on for over a year since we left office. The last time I was called by the authorities in relation to these vehicles was when they gave me the seizure notice," he said. "We did not use public funds or proceeds of crime to acquire the... motor vehicles. Our sources of income are traditional sources; membership, some are big some are small donors. We also have donors who believe in what we believe like free enterprise and well-wishers, locally and abroad."

Maj Kachingwe said in the run up to the 2011 general election, the party was levying each of its about 80 members of parliament K600,000 and that membership was pegged at K2 million and that at one occasion the party raised K1 billion.

He said there were records from the MMD treasury department to show how the party carried out its fundraising activities.

Judge Annie Sitali then adjourned the matter to November 15, 2012 for continued hearing.

Labels: CORRUPTION, ELECTIONS, MMD

posted by MrK @ 8:17 PM