Sheriffs impound council vehicles

Sheriffs on Monday impounded Nkhata Bay District Council vehicles and motor bikes, including the district commissioner (DC’s) official vehicle over a K9.5 million debt.

Nkhata Bay DC Alex Mdooko confirmed that his official vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser V8, a Nissan double cabin pick-up and three motor bikes were seized by sheriffs in connection with two court cases where the council was ordered to pay the aggrieved parties.

Mdooko said his official vehicle was impounded last Thursday in connection with a case where a mechanic, Ken Mphande, claimed over K9 million for repairing council vehicles.

In February this year, the High Court in Mzuzu ordered the council to be depositing with the court K2.5 million monthly until the determination of the matter.

Mdooko said due to financial constraints, the council only made one deposit. This forced Mphande to engage sheriffs who impounded the DC’s vehicle.

“We wonder why they are not impounding the vehicles he claims to have repaired. The vehicles are not even roadworthy and he says he repaired them. They are non-runners and have been parked for a while. Those are the vehicles they should have impounded.

“The other thing is that the man presented himself as a good Samaritan before repairing the vehicles. However, the council was surprised that he later started demanding over K9 million,” said Mdooko.

Mphande’s lawyers said the council was asked to be depositing the money because it sued their client.

The other vehicle and motorbikes were confiscated after the council failed to pay about K2.2 million from the K4.4 million it was ordered to pay after one of its vehicles hit a person in the district in 2011.

The money was for legal costs and compensation to the victim. n