Crisis in UDF: Mponda not cleared yet on K1.4m scandal
The United Democratic Front (UDF) said it has not made any decision on its suspended deputy secretary general Gerald Mponda following allegations of misappropriation of K1.4 million (about $3 500awaiting a report from the disciplinary committee.
Mponda was suspended by UDF national executive committee for allegedly withdrawing K1.4 million (about $3 500) from the party’s bank account.
The money is over 80 percent of the subvention the party gets from Parliament. UDF receives K1.7 million (about $4 250) quarterly funding from Parliament.
The cheque was reportedly signed by former UDF secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala and former treasurer general Dr George Nga Mtafu. Both Mtafu and Makwangwala could not be reached for comment yesterday.
But reports indicated that the party’s disciplinary committee meeting in Blantyre on Thursday chaired by former Blantyre City mayor John Chikakwiya, cleared Mponda of any wrongdoing.
The committee also recommended that the party’s secretary General Kandi Padambo should apologise to Mponda for making the claims without asking him privately.
Mponda admitted to withdrawing the money since he had identification but wondered why he was queried instead of those that signed the cheque.
UDF publicity secretary Ken Ndanga confirmed Mponda was facing a disciplinary hearing on the financial scandal.
He, however, UDF has not cleared Mponda yet.
“Mponda was suspended by the UDF National Executive Committee and appeared before a disciplinary committee to be heard. The party wil wait from the report from the committee and make a position on the matter. It is incorrect to say Mponda has been cleared, not yet,” said Ndanga.
Chikakwiya also contradicted himself on Friday for saying that Mponda has no case to answer.
“What I know I said was that the disciplinary committee has heard from Mponda’s side of the story which was his defence to plead innocence. We have compiled a report for UDF NEC’s determination,” said Chikakwiya.
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