Parliament probe on maizegate kickoff, ‘money was paid’: Zambia Minister says Malawi bought grain from individual farmers

Members of Parliament (MPs) in Malawi under the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Irrigation and Food Security jointly with Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday kick-started an inquiry into the procurement process of maize from neighbouring Zambia covered live on Zodiak radio.

Chidanti Malunga: Committee wants to remain neutral to give Malawians only the truth

The probe comes after civil society organisations (CSOs) sought court order to suspend Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Food Security George Chaponda who has to explain the perceived mess, particularly on the use of a private company as a broker, Kaloswe in Zambia.

During the Tuesday session, CSOs through Human Rights Consultative Committee chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba made submissions and recommendations to the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture to be considered in their inquiry

The CSOs shared documents to the committee including purported evidence of top government officials in Zambia for the maize deal.

The hearing also learnt that despite government disputing that $34.5 million (about K26 billion)  was paid for 100 000 metric tonnes of maize to Zambia private company Kaloswe Commuter and Courier Ltd or  Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZFC), a government agency, is “gross misrepresentation” as details of payment have been reported in Zambian media.

Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Irrigation and Food Security Joseph Chidanti-Malunga maintained that the committee wants to remain neutral to give Malawians only the truth.

He said the first session was mainly about information sharing.

CSOs expressed confidence with parliament inquiry saying they will not trust presidential commission of inquiry as some members are bootlickers who have exhibited their bias already in public.

The maize purchase deal is currently marred with controversy regarding contractual issues involving the State-produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc).

While Admarc insists that it is buying the staple grain from Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF), a government agency, documents show that Admarc used a middleman Kaloswe.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya has said that the Zambian government has nothing to do with the maizegate as the Malawian government did not buy maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) but from individual farmers.

Siliya said the only role the Zambian government played was to issue a permit of clearance, while the Malawian government came and identified a private agent to procure the maize on its behalf.

“We allowed for the export to Malawi because the contract was signed before the ban on exports was effected.

“The contract was signed in June 2016 under a government-government arrangement to help Malawi with the commodity following a drought which only spared Zambia in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC),” said Siliya in quoted reported by Zambian Observer.

“The Malawian government identified an agent, the maize suppliers and also negotiated the terms without any input from the Government,” she said.

She said after the Malawian government sought Zambia’s assistance; the Government provided them with a permit to import maize while the maize export ban was still in effect.

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Mcp die hard
7 years ago

Bravo kapito. Now we can see the truth coming. We are waiting to hear if what kapito and the team of inquiry will come up with. If they say there was nothing wrong ooooo Chakwera be ready to face the drum best from us the Mcp supporters for putting our party to shame. We are going to place an injunction On your presidency for telling lies
Sorry Chakwera your trouble is coming soon . Read your Bible well what happened to Hamman and Melodicai
You will see it now you false Reveend

odi
odi
7 years ago
Reply to  Mcp die hard

Chitsiru ichiso!!!!cant you see kuti DPP ndi iweyo ndinu agalu?

komzy patrick
komzy patrick
7 years ago

Atiuze zoona zenizeni anthu amenewa…..

chidongo
7 years ago

Dowo iiiiii dowo iiiii

Zilani
Zilani
7 years ago

The truth is that DPP and Chaponda are desperately shameless to steal funds for 2019 campaign.

APM knows all about it and there is nothing he can do to discipline Chaponda. Why? Because the same thing happened during 2014 campaign and rigging. They know what they are doing, but unfortunately they don’t know what God is doing. K577bn cashgate was meant for Bingu’s campaign but ended being used by APM.

mmc
mmc
7 years ago

I don’t see anything insinuating payment was done or that ADMARC used Kaloswe. Though now I understand that it was not possible for Malawi to buy straight from FRA of Zambia.

Dr Madalitso Mumba
Dr Madalitso Mumba
7 years ago

Kapito usandinyase wamva. Malawians know this, Kapito gets bloody money from DPP at Ryalls Hotel where there is also another DPP boot licker. Kapito mxiiiiii.

Shut up your stinking mouth. Just relocate to statehouse uzikasetetsa uyo-yo mxiiiii. Don’t pretend that you speak for us. Ukaledzera ta wine takoto usamatinyaseeee wamva. F……….k u kunthawi za nthawi

DOBO
DOBO
7 years ago

Koma kuti xaaaaa.Commissiom inquiry ya. Kapitoyi ndiye itinso abale .Zimenezi ndiye zitinso.Zimene akufotoza. a Kapito ndiye zaozao .Ndikuona kuti. chipwirikiti cha chenicheni pa nkhani chokubwera

Satyagraha Reichstag
Satyagraha Reichstag
7 years ago

This is the end of play games on maize gate. Kudos to the Mzuzu High Court and Parliament. CSOs wake up and initiate further investigations on all the other cashgates. A Dausi mutinamiza chiyani tsopano life a Malawi. Malawians are tired of being ripped off. Investigate everything and it time for the courts to rid Malawi of corruption. We can no longer sit back and watch and be a joke to other people forever. Let sanity return! We ask the courts to keep dismissing everyone who is involved. There should be no sacred cows. It is time to payback. For… Read more »

satan in Malawi
satan in Malawi
7 years ago

The truth is game yatembenuka and all who stealing government money will be exposed

Prof. Dr. Malawimotobuu
Prof. Dr. Malawimotobuu
7 years ago

Why the probe now? 577 billion? 7 rotten ministers? tractorgate? now maizegate? where have you been? Useless parliament

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