KITWE Mayor Elias Kamanga is being investigated for abuse of office after he allegedly obtained K1.7 million from the council to buy suits for himself and another K3 million to dine and wine with some of his fellow councillors at a guest house in Kitwe.
Copperbelt provincial local government officer Solomon Sakala and Ministry of Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary, Timothy Hakuyu confirmed receiving reports of Mr Kamanga’s alleged abuse of office.
Mr Sakala said he received a report from the council about the alleged abuse of office by the mayor. Mr Hakuyu was handling the matter.
“Yes, I can confirm that my office received a report that when Mr Kamanga was elected mayor, he got K1.7 million to buy himself suits and later took some of his colleagues to wine and dine at Shebourne Guest House in Kitwe where they spent K3 million, but I can’t say much because Mr Hakuyu is handling it,” Mr Sakala said.
Mr Hakuyu said he had received a copy of the report and was cross-checking it with the town clerk to establish under which circumstances the mayor received the money.
“I can confirm receiving a copy of that report but what I usually do, when I receive such kind of reports, I normally cross-check. I want to know under which circumstances he got the money,” Mr Hakuyu said.
When contacted, Mr Kamanga, who is opposition Patriotic Front Bupe Ward councillor, said he could not comment on the matter.
Some documents availed to the Times in Kitwe and signed by Brighton Mbaimbai, who was then acting town clerk, and Mr Kamanga confirmed the latter’s request for the said money.
[Times of Zambia]
Govt naiswangana pali Opposition
NOTED!!!
Ok it is from the Times of MMD and RB has been looking for a chance like this to pin the PF run councils for his re election. But if Elias Kamanga has behaved like Chiluba, the law should deal with him accordingly. If it is true, then he a big let down not only to PF but to all Kitwe Residents.
#3 whether the report is from Times of MMD or Times of RB is neither here nor there. The fact and truth is the mayor abused funds and needs to be held accountable. Should we turn a blind eye to a theft just because Deja Vu and the mayor carry the same party cards. Hell no!!! We shall not be victims of the Fallacy of Ad Hominem, were we overlook the facts being said by somebody we hate and then just major on attacking the person giving us information. I think the question to be debated here is ..DID THE MAYOR ABUSE FUNDS AS ALLEGED? and not attacking Times of Banda or Rupiah.
Lets have a civil debate.
Uubombela mwibala………………….
I’m sure there’s a perfect explanation for it…
Uubombela mwibala anyela mwibala……..my foot. lock his balls.
Povert driven politicians! K1.7m!! shame on the mayor.
The Times of Zambia iz very quick and professional on such storiez. Knowing His Worship the Mayor Elias Kamanga az I do, there iz no way he would do thingz without covering hiz tracks.
how many suits can you buy from 1.7m kwacha. but kwena ba meya bali chipa
If they can behave this way in opposition, what more if the reins of power are given them?
#4 MMD Chief Bootlicker- Iwe Cheekala why have you over looked my statement on if the guy is guilty but pick on the defence of your amafi times of mmd? I have not defended this man, but every thing from the Daily and Times normally have a stink from rotten MMD.
#10 Ba Power
You can actually buy 10 chinese suits at k170,000 each.
I thought Abuse of office is over? Well, if he is convicted, precendence will be set. Mulongoti will be in trouble the moment he leaves his office te?
More money in PF pockets indeed. I hope this is also included in the PF report on PF led councils which we are still waiting for. Maybe this is why PF councils are failing at simple jobs like garbage collection. What more the complex ones like city planning. They cant even do that.
More laundered money in PF’s pockets bla bla bla…
Iwe no 4 Bootlicker fimofimoThe Times of MMD is a propaganda institution that goes out of its way to find cases against those identified as MMD enemies. There may not be a case but because they are looking for it they will bring out anything to smear the enemy. So your here nor there argument doesnt stand.
#10 & 13; In Kitwe theze Chinese suits cost 90pin, so the mathematics iz yourz to find out how you can buy from 1.7million.
#12 Deja Vu, I thought you were one of the more respectable people on this blog.I didn’t figure you to use that kind of language.I thought you were christian (catholic?).Disappointing.
#19 Reader, I am also disappointed, lately he/she has been using bad language, what a loss!
FOR ”abuse of office”? HASN’T IT BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CONSTITUTION?
Not surprising. Local Govt officer Solomon Sakala has a bone to chew with Kitwe Mayor. Remember the visit to Namibia that the mayor took, Sakala alleged that the mayor had not been cleared and yet he was and even traveled with Hon Muteteka Deputy Minister Local Govt. Hon. Kaingu should also be probed for using govt money to visit his constituency among other uses. The PS Sherry Thole can attest to that.
#19 reader are you sure what you say about dejafu. the man is PF blinded follower never to see good in what govt does. dejafu isnt different from PF followers infact he is a sychophant. kitwe mayor gets excited with very little cash what more if he was in govt handling billions. are these pipo we need mu govt so cheap lumpen of a mayor.
#19 Reader
Deja Vu is an ardent, die hard HH cadre, who has contracted the PF insults influenza through the UPND/PF Pact.
#22 kadobi peter
Local Govt officer Solomon Sakala has just confirmed the story.He is not the source of this story.He just received it from the council.Maybe Julian Assange has a hand in this leak.
the story should have focused on the K3mn spent on beer because really how many suits can you buy from K1.7mn? ukusebanya mayor pali K1 million shuwa
Maybe the guy is entitled to suits and dinners from the council. Every marcher in Zed during labour day, trade fares etc get free suits from organisations they represent. For those out of touch ZMK1.7m is an equivalent of U$350 with which you cant buy any sereous designer suit. Stop ma jelousy.
1.7million + 3million kwacha=4.7million(petty cash) pursue chiluba instead!!!!!
#19 Reader – Sorry Boot leaker annoyed me to that extent. A 1000 appologies
# 24Bridget – I have no political affiliation. Infact I could have been more MMD than Boot Leaker if FTJ had not pawned my party.
#23 PF JEALOUSY – There you go again. I have never been PF and I cannot keep quiet if some fake MMD members are raping my country.Unlike you I expect who ever is benefiting from my tax to deliver. Why should I attack Sata and HH, Miyanda and Nawikwi when they are not incharge. Why should I thank RB when he just applied for a job from me to serve me and I make sure I pay him at the end of the month. I did not ask him to get Job 1 did I? He came pleading on his knees for this Job1 so he must work no get praises.He is not paid to watch dancers at the air port. Get this in your head. He is paid well and on time so he should not expect thanks from me.If HH etc takes over, he will also be in my firing line. Only job skeekers need to boot lick.
people people , sure i see the pull him down syndrome going around. The MMD wants to fix him since is been critic to the gov and the rest of the PF. No wonder they are using Chanda Chimba to dent PF’ s image for no reasons apparently, we are not children to be taken for granted. We are watching what ever is going on……Shame. Whats 1.7 sure mwebantu to buy a suit.
Every mayor is entitled to entertainment allowance and there is also in councils what is called the mayor’s vote which he/she can use to entertain visitors and colleagues. This is a story of witch-hunting. Thus on the K3m, there is nothing wrong, it happens in all councils and who knows on the K1.7m, maybe he requested part of his monthly allowances to buy suits. This story has no substance.
twatasha ba mayor!! please keep chewing the money!!
The pact cant even look after toilets, When they fail at councils, they blame GRZ. Clever reputable pipo have been frozen out of PF by the crooks, failed busnessmen and drug dealers and old fossilied last chance politicians.
This is really cheap politiking from the mmd, why deal on a K1.7m when Chiluba and Regina are celebrating thier acquital after all the billions that they misused. Leave Kamanga alone he has entitlements which should not become discussed in public. The story sucks!!!
In SA the cost of ONE suit to be worn by a MAYOR would cost R7 000.00 equivalent to K 3.5 million. This Mayor bought suits, not one suit, from K 1.7 million…! Just checking!
Publishing this issue and prosecuting whoever will cost way above 4.7m. Kuposa fye inshita uku. Bamulekefye umwana mwaume aletobela pa kapoto kakwe akapya!
Infact nga pali abakwete nambala ya kwa uyu mayor ba mpele mulipilileko pa talale!
Should prosecution of a criminal/person be at a profit? Just checking! This thing about profit also came up on Chiluba’s London case and now on the PF Mayor. My understanding is, if someone commits a crime no matter how much it costs a tax payer, the person should be brought to book. Its not the money factor but attitude of the person of getting or putting hands on what’s not theirs.
Just checked with one the few MMD mayors on CB.The Mayor has some allowance for his installation, and may be that is what he was entitled to though this MMD mayor couldnt say because he is from a smaller council
LET THE CIRCUS CONTINUE. THE WITCH HUNT AND FINGER POINTING. NO ONE IS CLEAN AM TELLING YOU. BOTH MMD COMPOSITION AND CURRENT PF COMPOSITION HAVE DIRT HANDS. THEY ALL BELONG TO THE SAME GROUP. THEY ARE THE REASON WHY ZAMBIA CAN’T DEVELOP IN SPITE OF VERY ATTRACTIVE COPPER PRICE ON WORLD MARKET. INDEED IT’S KOLWESTANS IN CONTROL OF THE MAIZE FIELD.