Financial scandal earns UDF official suspension

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has suspended its deputy secretary general Gerald Mponda following a financial scandal.

UDF publicity secretary Ken Ndanga confirmed the financial scandal in an interview on Tuesday as well as Mponda’s suspension.

Said Ndanga: “It’s true that the UDF national executive committee met on Thursday last week and, among the issues discussed, was the one involving Mr Mponda which resulted in suspension.”

Insiders claimed the amount involved is K1.4 million (about $3 500) which Mponda allegedly withdrew 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 issue, according to sources, happened in October last year before the convention.

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 Mponda on Tuesday claimed he handed over the money to those who assigned him to go to the bank.

He accused the party of suspending him in absentia and then calling him to a disciplinary hearing on September 19 2013.