Chaponda insists ‘I will never, on my own, resign’: Malawi Parliament opens parallel inquiry on ‘maizegate’

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda is clinging on to his post as he  insists he’s done nothing wrong in  the  Zambian maize misprocurement saga.

Chaponda: I did nothing wrong

Chaponda has come under civil society organisations (CSOs) fire who have called for his resignation, saying he would “jeopardise the investigations” into the ‘maizegate’.

The two Parliamentary Committees—Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and Public Accounts—separately made similar demands.

But Chaponda issued a media statement on Wednesday made available to Nyasa Times, arguing his involvement in the misprocurement was minimal as  State-produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe was the one in charge.

“At the outset, let me report that, my involvement was minimal as the main buyer of the maize was ADMARC and not the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development. As most of you, may be aware, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development oversees the operations of some parastatals including ADMARC. While the Ministry focuses on providing policy direction and guidance, the parastatals manage day to day operational issues of their institutions and they are answerable to their Boards,” Chaponda said.

According to Chaponda he led a three man delegation to Zambia on 8th May, 2016 where  he held a meeting with his  counterpart, the Zambia;s Minister of Agriculture who gave Malawi delegtaoon  an approval to buy at least 100,000 MT of maize against the  planned 300,000 MT.

“I came back to Malawi on 19th May, 2016 and I left the team to contact the relevant suppliers. Upon return to Malawi, the team informed my office that the trip was futile as they had identified only one supplier whose price was exorbitant, at USD395/tonne. As such, no agreement was
made.

“ADMARC then undertook a follow up trip search for suppliers. It was during this visit that ADMARC reported that they met a number of suppliers including Kiloswe Commuter and Courier Ltd and ZCF. However, the credible agreement was reached with Zambia Co-operative Federation (ZCF) to supply 100,000 MT of maize. Thereafter, ADMARC held discussions with Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development to pay ZCF through a Letter of Credit (USD 34.5 Million) from PTA Bank,” Chaponda explains in the statement.

Subsequently, Chaponda said, Malawi government learned that the Zambian Government had banned maize exports and by that time ZCF had not yet started supplying the maize.

“Therefore, on 11th December, 2016, as a special Envoy of the President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, I led a delegation to meet the President of Republic of Zambia on the export of maize to Malawi due to the fact that, a contract was already signed between
the ZCF and ADMARC.

“I arrived in the Republic of Zambia on the same day, met the President of the Republic of Zambia and thereafter attended a Press Briefing conducted by my counterpart, the Minister of Agriculture in Zambia during which she announced that the Government of Zambia had approved export of 100,000 MT of maize to Malawi. I came back from that trip on 12th December, 2016. This was on the understanding that this was a Government to Government arrangement.

“I have also been informed by ADMARC, that no payment has been made to ZCF as the contract provided for a minimum of delivery of 10,000 MT before any demand is made to the Bank, to cash on the Letter of Credit. To date ZCF has supplied only 4,000 MT of maize,” Chaponda said.

Meanwhile, Malawi Parliamentary Committee of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has opened a parallel investigations into the ‘maizegate’ to investigate corrupt elements in the matter after noting that commission of inquiry appointed by President Peter Mutharika may just be to silence the inquisitive Malawians.

Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture chairperson Joseph Chidanti Malunga said the committee is doinf its own investigations “to get to the bottom of the matter.”

He said their first report will be issued on Januray 31, 2016 when the presidential commission of inquiry is also expected to submit its finding to the Head of State.

Chaponda has since welcomed the  inquiry by President Mutharika “to investigate the matter at length.”

But the minister has maintained that he will not succumb to civil society demands to resign over the matter, saying those making the calls are jealous of him.

Admarc chief executive officer Mulumbe has also denied any wrong doing in the matter.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
28 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Papa Chalo
Papa Chalo
7 years ago

M’dala iwe Chaponda. Can you explain the source of millions of money (cash) you were depositing at the bank?

Can you explain why umafuna ATI bill kuti MPs should not discuss? Ndipo pano tokufufuza mbava iwe. Kubela anthu a flood victims? Umudziwanso Mulungu.

Nawenso Mgeme Kalilani, samala. Ukufuna kuuza ife kuti Peter sangalowelele kuchotsa Admarc head; ndiye kuti some cases appointing/dismissing/etc ankapanga m’mbuyomu in such institutions amalakwitsa? Bwera poyera kuti tifukule nkhani za mtundu uwu.

Malawian
Malawian
7 years ago

Very few thieves accept wrongdoing

Zander mutiuze
7 years ago

He can not resign typical African politicians. But weather he does not resign to day. Tomorrow he will end. When JB took over he was nobody. This is coming. His dream of becoming next leader he can forget. He is the most hated minister. To be a leader???

Bandulo
7 years ago

Pepani anamalila onse tikutinso pepani. Malilo a Mcp tidzaika 2019. Otsogola ndi mphasa adzakhala olemekezeka ex leader of opposition bwana Chakwera
Oyala nkhata bwana Richard Msowoya
Zativuta ife a Mcp chifukwa cha bodza la Chakwera mufuna njila zodula zokalowela Ku palace
Pena tdzayetsenso 2024 ngati sitifa ndi hiv aids
Pepani sikulalata koma cbilungamo pano pa Malawi

Bilimankhwe
7 years ago

Bravo cgaponda. Don’t give them chance these idiots. They are going to vomit blood
Already Chakwera is depressed and has diarrhea. He thought he would win by telling lies
Chakwera should be the first person to resign in Mcp.
How can a so called reverend tell lies .
Mcp tili pamavuto.
Is the spirit of Kamuzu aware of this mess by Chakwera in his party as a founder
Please please Mcp take cover 2019 is very close.you will face serious casualties than 2014 because of this Chakwera
MARK MY WORD
Don’t think Iam crazy

Namachende
Namachende
7 years ago

What Bwana Chaponda is saying ADMARC has not paid anything to Zambia and the line of credit was not granted from PTA. Madobadoba anangobweresa only 4000 MT of maize instead of 100000 MT. Yah Malawi wafikapo

6 Perri & berry
6 Perri & berry
7 years ago

I don’t think minimal level of involvement is a justification for no wrong doing. You can be involved only a little but influence big. By the way, what does the honourable minister mean by minimal involvement? How far did he go with his minimal involvement in influencing suspiscious decisions? After all chimanga chakenso ndi choti its too expensive to be accessed by average Malawian, what the hell!

tman
7 years ago

act fast on cashgate money mulimbana ndi ndalama zachimanga zoti sizinalipiridwe,kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk nsete za anthu zedi

Fabiano Kamanga
Fabiano Kamanga
7 years ago

MR CHAPONDA, PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK FROM YOUR CONTROVERSIES. ALL WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IS THAT YOU SHOULD RESIGN SO THAT YOUR NAME CAN BE CLEARED IF INDEED YOU DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG.

ONCE YOUR NAME IS CLEARED, YOU CAN BE RE-APPOINTED. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU???

Thinktank
Thinktank
7 years ago

Never seen a dull president like APM….so passive that he cant act.Akuti a professor…my foot!…Those defending chaponda we know you are paid to do that. …

Read previous post:
Bikiko is MCP candidate for Lilongwe mayoral polls: DPP maintains incumbent Chapondera

Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  is maintaining its councillor Dr Desmond Bikoko as candidate to contest for  the title of Mayor...

Close