Shortly after reports appeared that the former governing party had rental arrears in respect of the office building that housed its secretariat in Lusaka, the landlords, the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) demanded settlement of the outstanding amount of K461 million (P682,854) within seven days and warned that it would apply for a warrant of distress and engage bailiffs to seize MMD property if the party failed to pay within the period.
The MMD seems to have dithered and bailiffs moved in promptly on October 5, and seized property that included two Toyota double-cabs, computers and office furniture. It was earmarked for sale at a national auction if the MMD did not pay within five days of the seizure. At the time, MMD National Secretary Richard Kachingwe would not comment because as he put it he had no official notification of the seizure. Former president Rupiah Banda's party scrambled around and swiftly paid half the outstanding amount. Only then was the property returned.
