Chaponda accused of giving contradictory statements on ‘maizegate’
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda has been accused by Malawi’s flagship newspaper, The Daily Times of giving contradictory statements to defend himself from any wrongdoing in the misprocurement of maize from Zambia.
Chaponda said his involvement was minimal as the main buyer of the maize was the Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) and not his ministry.
The paper has however put Chaponda on spotlight after he claimed he went to Zambia on two occasion to discuss the maize deal when he led a three man delegation on 8th May, 2016 and then on 11th December, 2016, as a special Envoy of the President Peter Mutharika to meet Zambian leader Edgar Lungu.
But the newspaper i its lead sgtory report titled ‘Chaponda lied onmaize deal’, says the minister might have been to Zambia “more than twice”.
The paper noted that the dates Chaponda mentions “contradicts” with what President Mutharika said on October 21, 2016 at a news conference upon returning to UN summit.
The President is quoted saying on October 21 that Chaponda was in Zambia signing maize purchase deal with President Lungu.
The Daily Times said when it contacted Chaponda to clarify on that, he raged with anger, saying the press statement “simple language” was enough comment on the matter .
Chaponda’s statement comes amid calls from civil society organisation (CSOs) for him and Admarc chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe to resign and pave the way for investigations into the issue.
The minister has flatly refused to resign, denying any wrong doing.
But observers argue that where there is ministerial responsibility, the accountable minister is expected to take the blame and ultimately resign for waste, corruption or any other misbehaviour.
“This means that if waste, corruption, or any other misbehaviour is found to have occurred within a ministry, the minister is responsible even if the minister had no knowledge of the actions. A minister is ultimately responsible for all actions by a ministry because, even without knowledge of an infraction by subordinates, the minister approved the hiring and continued employment of those civil servants ( in this case parastatals). If misdeeds are found to have occurred in a ministry, the minister is expected to resign.
“It is also possible for a minister to face criminal charges for malfeasance under their watch. Plain and simple. Lack of knowledge is not an excuse, plain and simple,” said a governance observer.
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Kunyasa nkhope ndi mtima womwe
Wakwiya ndimfiti.
I smell a rat in the death of that judge…just saying
Kodi APM akumuopa chiyani fisi amati Chapondayu? Uyu tisadandaule naye coz afa ndimaganizo chifukwa cha kuvutika kwa a Malawi. Mulungu wammwambamwamba ndiye akonze zonse. Ngakhale atapha judge akuganiza kuti iye akhala muyaya? Ndani amadziwa kuti Bingu amwalira? Ukakhala pa udindo usamaganize kuti ndiwe sagwirika. La 40 limupeza for sure, afa ndi wachiponyeponye ndipo zonse akudzikundikirazi zidzatsala ngati mmene amnzawo anasiyira matumba a madollar. Let us all pray for God’s intervention as He is a just judge ndipo aweruza mosakondera.
There are a number of indicator statements and moves indicating that Goverment of Malawi is destroying evidence of this maizegate.One of questionable statements is that payment has not been done and move to appoint commission of enquary to give false hope that something is being done yet new documents are being prepared to cover the evidence.This is GOVERNMENT TO GOBERMENT CORRUPTION on the expense of Malawian people.It will be very difficult to come up with evidence
VIN MONGU, I wished you answer something on what Nasto is saying. Anyone who has some facts to enlighten us on what Nasto is saying should do so with expedience because all those who have commented negatively on this issue will look stupid to the higher level. Are the calculations of Nasto true or not? We have been saying that ADMARC bought the maize at a high price. We have been saying all along that most people who comment on Nyasa are dunderheads who do not have any facts at all. They make too much noise but short of facts.… Read more »
Foolishness at its best. How can you imagine that only opposition will suffer from this stealling. Truth be told there are more people suffering now who celebrated in May 2014 than those who faced defeat. When will you learn to feel the pain of others. Do you really think that those supporters of Wandale in Thyolo are opposition supporters. Do you really think that those people are guilty or crying for help from what they thought is a government by them and for them. Don’t you think they need land to grow their own food so they can get out… Read more »
Santana, musagomele reasoning ya nesto too much like that because he has deliberately veered away from the argument and the issue in question,thrown in a few figures and confused people line you clearly. The details as stated by him are for the investigators to work on and figures from zambia clearly show that the maize owners were selling the middleman at $215 and he was selling to admarc at $345, those are the relevant figures and not how much the maize was in malawi at the time . The fact of the matter is that admarc and all the people… Read more »
Chimanga ku Zambia cheap. Buying price ZRK1.00/kg. Selling ZRK 1.50 of course costs borne are:- fumigation, bagging, transport n logistcs adds to…………….
Kanthuako
It is now a matter of time, Chaponda will go.The heat is too much on the President.
A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY SANGANENE ZOONA CHIFUKWA MA JUDGE ATHU
ALI UNDER POLITICAL MINDS PEOPLE. AND HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY
THE BIG FISH HIMSELF CYCLE BY POLITICS.BELIVIE ME THEY WILL
MAKE DELAYING TATICS SO THAT ALL THE INFORMATION WENT MISSING.
THIS IS MALAWI FULL OF EVIL DOERS
Accuse Daily Times
I write to respond to some people who are saying Nyasa yasowa zochita.
the truth of the matter is that Daily Times yasowa zochita . Chaponda alibe mlandu. Mlumbe is the one behind procurement
Alick Zimba, What do you mean by saying Chaponda alibe mlandu? We know Chaponda very well not you from Mzimba. The man has an insatiable appetite for riches. He does not care for the welfare of the suffering Malawians provided he gets what he wants. Again, why should Daily Times be blamed? Had it not been for Daily Times exposing the maizegate issue, would we have known about it? Are you one of the beneficiaries of the maizegate? Journalists share information as did the Zambian journalists sharing it with their Malawian counteparts. How do you expect to be kept informed… Read more »