Businessperson Oswald Lutepo, who has been arrested and charged with money laundering in the Capital Hill cash-gate, has quit politics, including his position as People’s Party (PP) deputy director of recruitment.
But the party, which has already suspended Lutepo and director of legal affairs Ralph Kasambara pending their cases in relation to the cash-gate, on Sunday said it has not yet been communicated to.
Lutepo, speaking through his lawyer Jai Banda, said he has also forgone his ambition to contest as a member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu North Constituency on PP ticket, where President Joyce Banda drummed up support for him when she held a rally in the constituency about three months ago.
However, Lutepo’s decision follows the party’s move to summon him and Kasambara to a disciplinary hearing and later a decision over the weekend that the two have been suspended from the party.
But Banda, in an interview on Sunday, said Lutepo had planned to announce his quitting from politics soon after his release on bail.
Said Banda: “My client was optimistic that he was going to be released on bail last week, and was prepared to make this announcement. He has completely quit politics; he wants to concentrate on his businesses.”
Banda said Lutepo has given no reasons but would be able to do so when he is released from Zomba Central Prison where he is being held alongside Kasambara, who is facing a charge of attempted murder of Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
The High Court in Zomba granted Lutepo bail on Thursday, but said he would be released on December 6 to allow the State to finalise investigations. For Kasambara, the High Court in Lilongwe will on November 22 make a ruling on his bail application.
Banda said following his decision to quit, Lutepo is not under any obligation to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee.
PP deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda said the party would wait to see the reasons why he has quit, but added that it is his constitutional right to do so.
Billions of kwacha have been stolen from government coffers and the State accuses Lutepo of pocketing K2.6 billion (about $6.5m) through suspected bogus payments for services he never rendered.
