ACB claims breakthrough in maizegate probe: Investigators obtain ‘crucial information’ from  Zambia

Graft busting body, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has come out of its cacoon to say it is making a breakthrough in its investigations of maizegate.

The ACB public relations officer Egritta Ndala says investigators who went to Zambia as part of the probe have come with crucial information.

“We have been working with the Anti Corruption Commission of Zambia and we have made a breakthrough in our investigations,” she said.

She however could not say the breakthroughs the ACB has made, saying investigations are still going on.

Ndala could not also say when Malawians should expect the results of the investigations, saying the ACB might take time to finish their  probe.

ACB is investigating how Admarc procured maize from Zambia after reports that Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda and Admarc CEO Foster Mulumbe were engaged in suspicious dealings.

Chaponda and Mulumbe deny any wrong doing.

This is the first time that ACB has come out to comment on the matter.

Governance and human rights activist Charles Kajoloweka said the civil society organisations’ “ undivided desire and hope”  is that investigators should get to the bottom of the scam and ensure that relevant authorities act accordingly on the findings.

“No one should be allowed to joke with people’s lives. The 6.8 million starving Malawians in whose name K26 billion loan was sought from PTA Bank to procure maize want answers.

“ We want answers why government has denied its people access to maize by pegging the prices too high that not many starving Malawians can afford,” Kajoloweka said.