By NATION REPORTER
Unless the order for the 156 vehicles is cancelled the matter will be taken to court.
Economic Front (EF)President Wynter Kabimba says there is no provision within the Constituency Development Fund (cdf) guidelines for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to allow such purchase without recommendations from the respective constituencies.
Mr Kabimba said he had given the minister, Mr Gary Nkombo seven days to cancel the purchase of 156 4×4 hard top Land Cruiser motor vehicles using CDF.
Mr Kabimba through his lawyers WM Kabimba and Co has demanded that the ministry cancels the procurement of the motor vehicles as the deal was ultra vires the provisions of the CDF Act and supporting guidelines.
“It is therefore our client’s instructions that unless you give us evidence that the said transaction has been cancelled within 7 days from the date hereof, we shall proceed to commence judicial review proceedings in the High Court for a writ of certiorari to have the same annulled accordingly,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said that the CDF guidelines referred to in the press release by the Ministry to centrally procure the said motor vehicles without any recommendations from the respective constituencies do not permit the Ministry of Local Government to do so without recommendations from the respective constituences.
However Mr Nkombo has dismissed allegations that the ministry had procured motor vehicles for monitoring and evaluation of CDF projects without following procedure.
Mr. Nkombo said contrary to allegations by Patriotic Front Member Emmanuel Mwamba, the procurement of the 156 motor vehicles was initiated by Parliament and approved by Cabinet.
He said that as Minister of Local Government he had no hand in the procurement process, adding that the allegations were aimed at tarnishing his image.
