ADMARC CEO Mulumbe fired over ‘maizegate’ scandal

The board of the State produce trader, Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) has recommended the firing of suspended chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe and director of operations Feckson Kantonga for having  having flouted procurement procedures in the Zambia maize import deal.

The special committee headed by one of the board members, Ken Ndanga, was tasked to meet and look at recommendations from two separate commissions of inquiry that named the two officials as having flouted procurement procedures in the Zambia maize import deal.

The committee released its findings on Wednesday and sources from Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development  say they resolved to fire Mulumbe, but was undecided on Kantonga.

Ndanga refused to comment, saying Admarc board chairperson James Masumbu was the right person to  grant interviews.

Masumbu confirmed a  “decision has to be made”

He, however, said they would have to follow “certain procedures” before releasing the report.

Masumbu said the special committee presented  its findings and recommendations to the Appointments and Disciplinary Committee which will present the full report.

Admarc board on April 3 2017 suspended Mulumbe and Kantonga for allegedly flouting procurement procedures in the procurement of 100 000 metric tons of maize from neighbouring Zambia.

According to an April 20 2017 letter from the committee inviting Mulumbe to the hearing, the suspended CEO faced four charges of performing duties in an unsatisfactory and inefficient manner, or neglecting or omitting to perform the same contrary to regulation 16(b) of Admarc conditions of service.

Mulumbe was also charged with failing to conduct due diligence before contracting with Zambia Cooperative Federation, (ZCF), contrary to regulation 117 of the Public Procurement regulations. The third charge is disregarding standing operating instructions relevant to appointment contrary to regulation 16(e) of Admarc conditions of service.

Further, he was also charged with embarking on external travel without clearance from the board chairperson, contrary to prevailing government policy as contained in circular Ref. No. 15/01/1 of August 25 2015.

Former minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda was also implicated in the dubious maize deal and was fired from Cabinet in February this year to pave the way for investigations by the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB).