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| National |
| UDF officials grab party cars |
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by
Pilirani Semu-Banda, 17 October 2004
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09:20:48
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Some top UDF officials, who are custodians of party vehicles, are removing the yellow colour of the cars and repainting them different colours as a way of claiming the vehicles as their own following uncertainties that have been dogging the party.
The UDF has confirmed the development, saying that some officials who are personalising the vehicles want them “as their retirement packages” following reports that the party is planning to hold regional and district elections and not because of the uncertainties.
The UDF says the people want to get the vehicles in case they are not re-elected.
Reports indicate that UDF regional organising secretary for women Beatrice Kanjala and regional governess (Limbe) Dorothy Masinga are some of the people who have removed the original colour of their vehicles.
The party confirmed that Kanjala is one of the people that the UDF has asked to repaint back the car to yellow or risk repossession by the party. But Masinga removed the original colour of the vehicle she uses following several accidents she was involved in, the party said.
Kanjala refused to comment on the matter, saying “it is none of your business”.
The party says it does not condone the repainting of the vehicles among its officials and that the issue has been discussed at a national executive committee meeting which has resolved to take back any cars that are painted a different colour, uses them for “matola” or for any personal business.
The vehicles, according to the UDF, should only be used for positive activities like using them as ambulances or as a means of transport during funerals.
Last week, the party’s treasurer general Khumbo Kachali sent letters of warning to all party officials, saying there is gross abuse of vehicles in most districts and in some instances the vehicles have been painted other colours.
The UDF has vehicles in all the districts which are used by district governors and other party officials.
The party is on record as having said all the vehicles belong to its chairman Bakili Muluzi, who is now under probe from the Director of Public Prosecution after reports that the former president abused his tax exemption privilege to buy scores of vehicles duty free, some of which were given to the party. |
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