By Merlyn Mwanza
The Economic Front has sued UPND secretary general Batuke Imenda as first defender and the Attorney General as second defendant over the use of a ZAF helicopter.
In a writ of summons before the High Court, the plaintiff Bwalya Malama who is being represented by EF leader and State Counsel Kabimba, submitted that the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) chopper was released and allocated to the 1st defendant and his entourage as such an advance party by the 2nd defendant, and that in a statement to Daily Revelation Media, on August 18,2022, ZAF Commander Lieutenant General Colin Barry confirmed the allocation and use of the chopper by Imenda.
The plaintiff submitted that Gen Barry confirmed that there are records in his possession which would confirm the list of passengers apart from Imenda who were in the helicopter from Lusaka to Kasama, and that the General in the same statement said that charters of these ZAF air assets are often paid for by the government of the Republic of Zambia as and when funds are available but that he did not have any receipt for this particular charter.
The plaintiff claimed that the use of the helicopter by Imenda on August 11, 2022 was illegal and abuse of public air assets by the UPND Secretary General.
The plaintiff is also seeking a declaration that the release and allocation of the helicopter without receipt of payment for the same is illegal and abuse of public air assets by the 2nd defendant, and also seeking an order of disclosure against the 2nd defendant of the flight manifest of the helicopter on August 11, 2022 on which Imenda was a passenger.
The plaintiff is further seeking an order that the 2nd defendant do pay for the total cost for the use of the helicopter from Lusaka to Kasama.
“The plaintiff’s claim is for (I) A declaratory judgement that the use of the Zambia Air Force helicopter by the 1st Defendant as Secretary General of the United Party for National Development (UPND) on 11th August, 2022 from Lusaka to Kasama is illegal-and an abuse of public air assets by the 1st defendant…An order that the 2nd Defendant do pay for the total cost for the use of the ZAF helicopter on 11th August, 2022 from Lusaka to Kasama. (v) Interest in the sum under (iv) above at the Bank of Zambia lending rate from the date of the writ. (vi) any other relief the court may deem fit and just, (vii) costs,” submitted the plaintiff.
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