By Scoop Reporter
CONFUSION is seemingly drifting towards a crescendo in the ruling in the Patriotic Front (PF) as party member Thabo Kawana has now petitioned the Ministry of Local Government to suspend Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe from his position over alleged abuse of office and embezzlement of funds.
This is in a matter in which Mr. Kawana has reported Mr. Kang’ombe to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over irregularities involving the shareholding of Kitwe United football club.
Mr. Kang’ombe has however denied any wrongdoing in the transfer of the shares of Kitwe United, saying that was done in the best interest of the club to ensure that it met the club licensing conditions set by FIFA, which among other things, directed that clubs must be registered as separate entities from their sponsors.
He says his involvement in the transfer of shares to individuals was purely to ensure that the club was not barred from participating in the super league and that after the club licensing was concluded, the shares were transferred back to the club.
But in a letter dated May 4, 2020 and addressed to Minister of Local Government Charles Banda, Mr. Kawana wants Mr. Kang’ombe suspended to pave way for investigations into allegations leveled against him.
“Owing to the seriousness and gravity of the above stated as they relate to the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019 and the Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 2018, and in line with the rules of natural justice with our Constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent Court of Law, I hereby petition your office to urgently and without delay, consider placing on suspension, away from office, His Worship, the Mayor of the Great City of Kitwe Eng. Christopher Kang’ombe.
“This is in order to facilitate a smooth and independent run of investigations void of interference and or intimidation of officers that may be engaged during the course of the investigation,” reads the letter in part.
