ACB to probe procurement of 44 vehicles by UTM

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has disclosed that it will launch an investigation into the purchase of 44 vehicles by the United Transformation Movement (UTM) party which is headed by the country’s Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima.

The development follows a request by one of the concerned citizens in the country Gosten Chinseu.

Chinseu last month penned the Bureau asking it to investigate the source of funding for the new fleet of vehicles.

In the letter, Chinseu said the request is in line with the Political Parties Act which requires parties to disclose their sources of funding.

ACB Director General Martha Chizuma has confirmed of the development in an interview with the press, saying the move follows a complaint from a citizen who has questioned UTM’s source of income.

But UTM spokesperson Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo was quoted in the media denying the allegations.

He said the party bought pickups for its 11 members of Parliament (MPs) and wondered why Chinseu was obsessed with UTM when other parties made similar expenses.