Mzuzu council wants out of DPP, Civil Society Organisations case
Mzuzu City Council has applied to be removed from the list of respondents in a case which five civil society organisations (CSOs) are demanding repayment of money which the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) got from public institutions for the party’s fundraising dinner.
The council, while conceding that it sent a team of its staff to Lilongwe for the dinner dubbed Blue Night, claims that it neither committed to pay nor made any payment towards the event.
MCC spokesperson, Karen Msiska, said the council finds its inclusion in the application questionable.
“What we have done is to ask our legal counsel [Victor Gondwe] to [apply that we] be removed from the CSOs claim or order. This is because we neither made any payment nor committed to make a payment towards the Blue Night event. We have found our inclusion in the application reasonably surprising,” Msiska said Monday.
But Msiska’s recent claim contradicts the council’s earlier response that it made a pledge to support the fundraising event.
Lawyer for the five CSOs, Wesley Mwafulirwa, neither denied nor confirmed reports that the council was looking for an out-of-court settlement on the matter.
“I cannot say yes or no. Remember, this issue is in court and I will comment tomorrow [Today],” Mwafulirwa said.
MCC sent six councillors and other members of staff from the secretariat to the event and they were given allowances for two nights, including fuel.
Organisations that attend the Blue Night are required to buy corporate tables.
The DPP and other public institutions have come under fire for abuse of public resources through funding of party function.
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