Ex-Aford executive members to pay Chihana, others K7.5m
Former Alliance for Democracy (Aford) executive members who dragged to court Minister of Youth and Sports Enoch Chihana and others elected at the Aford convention will have to pay K7.5 million (US$18 610)as costs.
Aford secretary general Christopher Ritchie confirmed the development yesterday, saying the amount is for the costs of the legal action.
Ritchie said the court asked the former executive members to pay costs incurred and the new executive upon compiling the damages, the figure came to K7.5 million.
He said the money will have to come from their (former executive members) pockets as they got the injunction in their personal capacity to challenge the outcome of the convention.
He said the former executive members are free to challenge the costs. He said the figure comprises the K2.6 million (US$6 452) the court asked Aford to pay Mary Mount Secondary School for using the school hall as venue for convention.
“The place where we convened we were charged K1.5 million (US$3 722) for three days, but because we delayed paying the school due to the court case, the amount rose to K2.6 million. Mary Mount went to court and we were asked to pay the K2.6 million.
“In challenging the convention case in court, our president also paid a lawyer K1 million. The money came from his pocket, so he has to claim it back.
“After the convention, delegates at the convention were also pushing for refunds and the president paid K2.5 million. Initially, Loveness Gondwe was to make the refunds, but because she pulled out, the president looked into the costs.
“In the course of challenging the case, we also incurred a K1 million cost to get affidavits from various districts which were used in court,” said Ritchie.
Former Aford secretary general Khwauli Msiska said he was yet to be served with the damages and could not comment on the figures.
He, however, called on the new executive to focus on the elections rather than fighting each other after the convention matter had been settled in court.
