PF DEPUTY national chairperson Davies Chama says to avoid innuendos, investigative wings must move in and probe all members of parliament and ministers who have been dishing out money and making huge donations at public events.

And Chama says ruling party members of parliament and Ministers who are using President Edgar Lungu’s name whenever they are dishing out cash are denting his name.

On Tuesday, former health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya pledged to splash out K50,000 each to four markets in Mansa District from the Presidential Market Empowerment Fund.

Dr Chilufya’s cash pledge, however, comes in the wake of a directive from PF national mobilisation committee chairperson Richard Musukwa who banned all PF members and aspiring candidates from disbursing cash at public gatherings.

Commenting on the development, Chama, who is also Defence Minister, asked investigative wings to probe the various donations made by party and government officials so as to put to bed speculations that the money was from illegal sources.

“We have established investigative wings of government that are empowered, constitutionally, to look into these matters. I, as Davies Chama, have no jurisdiction and the power to investigate an individual. Those who are empowered should investigate each one of us if we have engaged in any illegal activities. Other people are maybe earning the money legitimately, but the way they are conducting themselves, that is bringing unnecessary suspicion. Individuals have money, others are businessmen and they are members of the party. Equally, there are members of MMD who are businessmen who have money,” Chama told News Diggers! in an interview.

“We are living in a country where there is so much suspicion, even when they see you donating money, which you have earned legitimately. I can give money, but people can take it out of context. So, just to avoid these innuendos, which are being peddled, that is why the party has taken that position. It is up to the investigating wings if they suspect. You cannot just go on an expedition to investigate anything. If you see Mr Chama is donating money, you start investigating, you will find that you will be wasting your time. All of us are in the spotlight to be investigated if at all we are doing something illegal, they have that mandate and no one can stop them.”

And Chama lamented that PF Ministers and members of parliament who continued to openly gave cash hand-outs were misrepresenting the Head of State.

“Those who are masquerading that they are representing the President just want attention. How can the President who is against that be the one to give money to go and distribute? The President is very clear on this. We had the central committee and the President condemned these acts. And that is why the chairman for mobilisation Honourable (Richard) Musukwa issued a statement to that effect arising from the central committee, which was chaired by the President. If people have businesses, they have earned their money and they are distributing it in the name of the President, it is totally wrong!” Chama said.

“We should not be using the name of the President like that. There are a lot of things that we need to show as a party, that is why Honourable Musukwa said, ‘when we won in 2011, we did not use money, we were not displaying money.’ I was the secretary general of the party; did you ever see me at any event displaying money? We don’t believe in that kind of politics. If people have so much money, they should use it appropriately to foster development rather than denting the name of the President, it is not correct. If they continue after that directive, disciplinary action will follow them.”

Meanwhile, Chama mocked UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for not building his in-laws a decent house while he lived in a lavish mansion.

“The other day I was reading an article where (FDD) president (Edith) Nawakwi is pledging to donate or build a house for the in-laws of one political party leader, who has a mansion. He can’t even afford to buy iron sheets, they are so cheap and yet he is saying he is ‘a messiah.’ Now, if you compare the house the in-law stays in and look at his mansion and then a man is masquerading that he will come and transform your life, my foot!” exclaimed Chama.