APM counsels Chaponda: Malawi President urges productivity from new agriculture minister or face chop
President Peter Mutharika has warned newly appointed Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, George Chaponda, to re-organise the ministry or risk losing his cabinet portfolio.
Mutharika said this on Wednesday when he opened this year’s tobacco selling and buying season in Lilongwe.
“You are a new broom known for sweeping wherever you are. Sweep that ministry or I will sweep you,” said Mutharika.
Chaponda did not respond instantly but speaking last week in Chikhwawa at a political rally Chaponda described himself as a “bulldozer” and promised to reorganise the ministry so that it is effective, efficient and relevant to the needs of agriculture sector in Malawi.
Mutharika promised to give all the support to Chaponda who has in rhe past headed key ministries of Education, Justice and Foreign Affairs.
Chaponda is the vice president of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and inner circle of the Mutharika leadership also believed to be earmarked to succeed the President.
Mutharika fired Allan Chiyembekeza as agricultire minister last week at the time when the country is facing severe food shortages, messy FISP and abuse of funds continue to rock the ministry which is supposed to spearhead policies that ensures Malawi is food secure.
‘No hunger-deaths’
At the opening ceremony, Mutharika reiterated that no one has died of hunger in the country.
He said the police, National Intelligence Bureau and ministry of Health officials carried out an assessment to verify reports that some people died of hunger.
“There is no single person who died of hunger. You must stop propagating reports that some people died of hunger, these reports are just meant to decampaign the DPP and Mutharika, there is no basis in the reports,” he said.
He said it is not the DPP or Mutharika that has brought hunger in Malawi but weather phenomenon, El Nino.
Mutharika claimed there is now enough maize in Admarc depots yet the media is not publishing the positive story.
However, private radio, Zodiak said on Wednesday women continue to struggle to buy maize in Admarc depots in Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Blantyre.
Admarc has put advertisements in newspapers asking for tenders for the supply of maize to the state controlled grain company.
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Well done Mr. APM. Chaponda will deliver. One or two words my new broom Chaponda…
1. There was late Fertilizer distribution this ending season making the worst year
REMEDY): Start shipping,transporting to remote areas at least end of October.
2. The FISP: Distribute Coupons & end this assignment by end of October in all Regions EVEN IF THE RAINS HAVE NOT STARTED. Last season’s distribution was too late.
OMWE ANABZYALA CHIMANGA NDI MVULA YOYAMBA NDI AMENE AKOLOLE CHAKA !
Untill we shalll come too know that it is our own responsibility to feed ourselves noot goovernment only then we shall help our government
“Chaponda . . . promised to reorganize the ministry so that it is effective, efficient, and relevant to the needs of the agricultural sector in Malawi.” I hope that before he starts to sweep clean with his new broom, he will sit down with other ministers responsible for improving the lives of our 83% rural dwellers – such as the Ministers of Rural Development, Transport, and Natural Resources – and generate an integrated vision of the good life that is achievable in our rural areas, and the steps and processes that must be undertaken by each ministry in order to… Read more »
Mr. President, people are dying of hunger!
Oh God I mean really? !! In 2016 we still haven’t find a solution to so called maize shortages in malawi silos? When shall we stop depending on maize as staple food I mean come on people! Weather phenomenon and elninos talked about are the cause of our polluted plannet. That means we will not be depending on rains as it used to be in the past..solution to this is simple.our only natural given lake malawi and rivers..irrigation will fill our hungry stomachs not only with maize but with different varieties of foods that depends on water to feed us.… Read more »
If anyone can enhance the performance of any ministry, it is Chaponda or any of the other four or five heavyweights in DPP. He’s gungho, no nonsense, target oriented, busy – not for nothing – and result oriented. He’s the person also to sort out the boondoggle at ADMARC regarding distribution/supply of maize, our staple.
Ogwila nchito ayamba kunjenjemela (employees in his ministry usually improve their performance at least one notch up, as soon as he takes charge.)
Good apppointment, APM.
The president doesn’t get it, does he? Elniho weather conditions will be there, but want brains to find ways to mitigate it. He didn’t bring the Elninho, he doesn’t the brain to fetch migating plans. He will never learn.
APM? Do you still trust your intelligence. You said people are not dying of hunger and yet you have called for an SOS. Alarm, and just declared Malawi as a State of emergency.
There are people dying of hunger! Dont let these crooks fool you. We need sustainable farming and good irrigation systems and not selling our land to the chinese and have a our country men and women die!
The guy is not with us in Malawi he needs to fire all those who are surrounding him otherwise he doesn’t know what is happening in his own country, these are the results of rigging elections you always think that you are doing right things yet you make so many mistakes without your colony not advising you properly.
He needs to go and learn from his neighbor John Mangufuli , a five year course in Tz will give him a chance to know how to rule Malawi.