Chaponda, accomplices to face joint graft charges — ACB
The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) deputy director and its prosecutor Reyneck Matemba has said the bureau will apply to court to consolidate the charge sheet of former minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Geogre Chaponda, CEO of Grain Traders Association, Ms Grace Mijiga Mhango and Transglobe boss Rashid Tayub inconnection with the Zambia maize deal in 2016.
The three have been released on bail but their case is scheduled to be heard from August 9, 10, 11 and 14.
Matemba said the bureau will consolidate the charging sheet so that all should answer their cases at one place.
Matemba said when the bureau called defense lawyers last week asking for their clients to appear before ACB, Chaponda and Tayub chose to appear in Blantyre offices while Mijiga opted for Lilongwe.
“We will be applying to the court to consolidate the charges. We separated the charge sheets to avoid transferring the suspects, either from Lilongwe to Blantyre or from Blantyre to Lilongwe for formal charging,” said Matemba.
Chaponda, a former diplomat and lawyer, was sacked in February after he was implicated in a deal to import $35 million worth of maize from neighboring Zambia.
At the time, 8 million people in Malawi, nearly half the population, faced severe food shortages caused by drought.
Chaponda was placed under investigation following a recommendation by a presidential inquiry into the procurement deal. The inquiry found he had flouted procedures by hiring a private broker to import the maize, which is the main staple of Malawi.
He is also accused of sourcing the grain, in contravention of ministerial rules, for personal gain.
Chaponda and Tayub were charged with the offences of misuse of public office and possession if foreign currency without the lawful justification and influencing a public officer to misuse public office respectively and have since pleaded not guilty toall the offences.
Corruption has been prevalent in Malawi’s public sector, and in 2013 several high-ranking officials were implicated in the “Cashgate” scandal, which involved large-scale looting of government coffers.
International donors pulled the plug on aid of around $150 million after auditors said at least $30 million was stolen from state coffers over a six-month period.
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the issue is not about alomwe if one lomwe hates other tribes it doesn’t follow that all a lomwes are tribalist . so Mr chapondas issue shouldn’t darken all lomwes let us love our country and each other
The issue here is not about alomwe , no! But a thief who happens to be a lomwe… Remember uyuyu zoona watichititsa manyazi, mbava, ndipsi, nthakati , chitute,
Where is Mulumbe in all this fracas. How do you expect to successfully prosecute Chaponda without bringing Mulumbe in the picture? I hope its not a ploy to weaken the case.
kunyasa nkhope ndi mtima womwe.Koma a Lomwe ngonyasa eti…ndawonapo angapo onse ndi choncho.
He thought he was too smart.He hates one tribe and this has landed him to this end.
A diiplomat and a Lawyer ending up to be a thief in his 74s what a shame.
You’re out of context. I hate racists like you. You’re even very stupid. Machende akonso
Osawatukwana, basi akangomwalira no place in our grave yards here!!! all the houses and plots are dominated by them!!! Lets be patriotic, this is our Malawi!!!
Tikkayamba imeneyo ndiye simuyitha!!! we will finish you before you cross pa Jenda!!! That’s being ellesponsible!!! Hon . Chaponda is still under court of law and if he is convicted he will be convicted in his own capacity!!! not as a lomwe!!! I come from Dzeda but I can not support your stupid oubursts!!! You have neve tested the pains of the notorious MCP!!! GO TO HELL!!!