MMD acting national secretary Kapembwa Simbao and his deputy Chembe Nyangu have urged the Lusaka High Court to order for the immediate release of 101 motor vehicles that were seized from the opposing political party shortly after the 2011 elections.
Mr Simbao and Mr Chembe yesterday told the court during cross examination that they are not aware that some of the 101 motor vehicles they were claiming from the State were used as collateral for MMD rentals while another was sold by an MMD Member of Parliament (MP).
This is in a matter in which the MMD is challenging the seizure of its 101 motor vehicles by the police.Mr Simbo who is Senga Hill Member of Parliament (MP) told Judge Annie Sitali during continued trial yesterday that the seizure of the motor vehicles by the police had created unfair operations of the party as it has been deprived of the usage of the said vehicles since September last year.
During their different testimonies the two said it was not true that the vehicles were procured using funds suspected to have been proceeds of crime but that the MMD had embarked on several fundraising ventures
including hosting of “meet the President” dinners among others to raise funds to purchase the vehicles.
Mr Simbao said it was for this reason that MMD was demanding that the vehicles be released forthwith as it appeared that there was no reason why the police should continue holding the vehicles.
He urged the court to order that the MMD be awarded damages and be compensated for the loss of use of the vehicles for two years now and the deprivation that it has suffered resulting from the impounding of
the vehicles.
Mr Simbao said if information the secretariat was receiving to the fact that the vehicles were now in bad condition since they had been exposed to rains, wind and rust among others, the State should be ordered to compensate it because “the vehicles drove into these police stations so they must be able to drive out of the police stations.”
Mr Simbao and Mr Nyangu, however, told the court that they were not aware that one vehicle was used as collateral for rentals at National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) building, one had been sold by an MP
in February this year and the third was still in possession of another MP.
They said it was difficult for them to know because police swung into action impounding vehicles countrywide immediately after the PF had been announced winner making it difficult for Mr Nyangu to know how many were impounded.
Mr Simbao and Nyangu said according to the seizure notice that they were issued with, only 39 vehicles were on the list and they have since written to the Inspector General of police on the matter.
Trial continues on November 8, 2013.
pf is a party of thiefs
How were these vehicles acquired?
with party funds or government funds?
I hope it won’t be another kaya kaya story from our police? These vehicles might be history by now, with the kind of anarchy going on in Zambia !
Who is the complainant? As they await for refund liato 2 million with interest
Elyo lwanya. Donate those vehicles to hospitals and prisons. MMD plundered the nation resources and they dont deserve to have those vehicles back
kayombo don’t talk of things you don’t know.mmd was in power for 20 years. you mean they cant raise funds?ministers donate to party programes.
who knows maybe they shared them amongst themselves
Where is PF getting its money for all the vehicles they are buying now?
What goes around comes around Mr Sata.
Ya Simbao mwemwe chipuwa sana. You raised funds to buy 101 vehicles but failed to pay office rent? How much did you raise from these fund raising ventures? Who were the donors? Don’t give them back those vehicles until they show us proof that the vehicles were bought using the said sources of funding and not Government coffers!
Another tragic accident in Kafue tyre burst on a Mini bus ….RTSA and Traffic police where are you please abantu bafwa kuka Kufue.
Car accidents are not under discussion,we chinangwa.wrong item
They have most likely been spray pained and sold by these very corrupt thieving trigger happy police.
This PF is formed on enriching themselves and have no respect for the electorates.