I honoured my pledge-GBM
By BENNIE MUNDANDO UPND vice president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has clarified that he has fully fulfilled the K300,000 pledge he made to the taxi drivers, youths, and marketeers in Kasama as part of his empowerment drive.
During a card renewal exercise in Kasama on Saturday, March 10, 2018, Mr. Mwamba made the pledge to empower the three clusters of beneficiaries and the following day on Sunday, March 11, 2018, the UPND media team released a statement claiming that the money was already paid.
On Monday, March 12, 2018, the Daily Nation carried out an investigation over the statement and discovered that none of the intended beneficiaries had received the money and a story was done which was supposed to run on Tuesday but did not and only came out on Monday, two days after the money was given to the beneficiaries.
But reacting to the story, Mr. Mwamba said the money had been paid to the beneficiaries and confirmed that it was only wired on Wednesday due to the overwhelming number of people who wanted to access the funding.
“Firstly, let me inform the paper that disbursement of the said amount was transferred to and paid out to those that received irrespective of their political affiliation, (and) so, the pledge was fulfilled. However, because of the induced suffering by this PF Government, the recipients were overwhelming and in excess of 5000 and therefore given the limitations on the criteria, some may have not received.
“Meanwhile, I wish once again to warn Bennie, the author of this article not to play (according to) the paid pipper on behalf of the disgraced proprietor of this trash paper without thorough investigation on allegations from some youths and why maintain anonymity in this case. This contribution came from the bottom of my heart with no obligations or terms to the recipients. The money was transferred to Kasama on Wednesday 14th March, (as) soon as I came back from Kasama through Finance Bank, Industrial Branch and this transfer was even investigated by the OP and verified to the PF crooks,” Mr. Mwamba said.