Chaponda desperate! Creates ‘fake’ list of fellows connected to Team Chilima to gain Mutharika favours

Embattled former Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Development, George Chaponda, has embarked on a campaign whose chief aim is to distance some Cabinet Minister  from President Peter Mutharika so that they fall out, Nyasa Times understands.

Mutharika and some Cabinet ministers at a function in Zomba on Saturday
Chaponda: Alleged ti be behind the smear

Chaponda, who is also ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the southern region, was fired from cabinet following his involvement in a dubious maize procurement deal from Zambia—popularly known as maize-gate.

His corruption case is still in court awaiting judgement.

Sources that have talked to Nyasa Times say Chaponda is jealous of fellow DPP members who are enjoying favours from President Mutharika.

Our source said Chaponda has apparently created a list of people, most in the cabinet, that are said to be pro-vice president Saulos Chilima towards a presidential run under the DPP banner at the expense of incumbent Peter Mutharika.

“Among others, the guy [Chaponda] wants [Joseph] Mwanamvekha, [Henry] Mussa and [Grace Obama] Chiumia to fall,” said a DPP source.

Added oanothr source: “It’s all jealous. He knows the President does not like him like than before because of how he has dented the image of DPP with the maize-gate scam.”

And, according to the fake list which has been circulating on social media and we have seen, the aforementioned three are purported to be Treasurer General, Vice President (Eastern Region) and Vice President (Northern Region) respectively.

“The list has linked several names which would as much as possible portray huge betrayal on the President hence that Mutharika takes such action as to fire them,” said our source.

Apparently, it looks like Chaponda is not alone in the scheme to smear some ministers as a leaked audio clip between Cabinet minister Kondwani Nankhumwa and the party’s secretary general (SG) Gressielder Jeffrey, which centred on how the alleged Chilima camp was gaining more support, questions loyalty of some gurus, including Cabinet ministers.

It questioned the allegiance of Cabinet ministers Henry Mussa and Joseph Mwanamvekha, among other issues.

But Mussa has bitterly  rubbished assertions that he could not be trusted and questioning his loyalty to the party and its leadership.

“I have listened to the conversation and what the SG is saying about me is utter nonsense and childish. I don’t know what she is talking about. My loyalty is to President Mutharika and the party, no one else.

“My conscious is clear. It is very unfortunate that a senior member like her would stoop so low to discuss something about me which is not true. This is nonsense and childish and I demand an apology from her,” said Mussa in quotes reported in the local press.

Mussa said it would have been something else if it were President Peter Mutharika questioning his loyalty.

“How can she talk about me like that? Where was she when I was sleeping on the floor with President Mutharika in a cell in Lilongwe?” he queried.

Mwanamvekha refused to comment, saying the President could not be swayed by gossips.

Jeffrey is in the audio heard saying she was also suspicious of Mwanamvekha, claiming as Agriculture minister, he never took instructions on how to handle fertiliser subsidy coupons to loot and help party members.

Bwana [boss], you remember I have been telling you? I told you this man [Chilima] has everything in place. We just cheat the bwana (President) about the State intelligence; it is a useless intelligence and that’s why this government has been infiltrated. Chilima knows everything and he is doing his own things.

“When issues about Cabinet reshuffle are discussed, proposals that we will put Jeffrey there, you find that those issues are out. There is no secret. Bwana that mwana [child] is gone, he is not turning back,” Jeffrey is heard complaining in the clip.

Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) executive director Kizito Tenthani said the developments were a sign of lack of open debate within political parties.

“What would be a cause for worry is the tendency for some parties to silence other quarters from expressing their views on how their political parties should be led. One would want to believe that political parties in the democratic setting should offer that space where dissenting views are heard, even the views that are challenging the leadership of political parties,” saud Tenthani in quotes reported by The Nation.

“What we are seeing borders on the weaknesses of our political parties. Our political parties need to reign over personal or individual interests. Political parties should look beyond the limited interests. They should look at the greater good for the party and the country at large.”

Tenthani, whose organisation works to build the capacity of political parties, advised the parties to respect their respective constitutions and accept dissenting views. He warned that creating “father figures” who cannot be questioned is counterproductive.

Malawi will hold tripartite elections in May next year to elect the President and Vice-President, 193 members of Parliament and 462 ward councillors.

 

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Silica gell
5 years ago

Please fellow Malawians don’t take these stories serious. Recall just before yesterday they posted a story to the effect that bishops will campaign for Chilima, they were asked to justify the source of the story. They removed the story for fear of embarrassment, they new they lied. So don’t believe these fools who cook stories and post them on this site. Akawona comment ikuwaika pambalambanda sayipanga post at I “awaiting for moderation” foolish! Kudanitsa anthu basi.

Nambewe
Nambewe
5 years ago

what fascinates me about this Saulosi Chilima case is that he has not declared that he wants to stand for president in 2019. Why is everybody so keen to throw this man in the ring? What is the catch? When Chilima is ready he will stand for president . A question that comes to m ind: if Chilima takes these people seriously and then become President first of all they will feel Chilima owes them! then secondly if he does not perform according to their wishes will they remove him again and put another puppet in the chair to act… Read more »

KALISTA
5 years ago

THE MONEY YOU PACKED IN
PILLOW CASES AND SACKS IS NOT ENOUGH MADALA KODI ??

DO YOU HAVE A FAMILY? ?
WHAT ARE THEY ADVISING
YOU IF AT ALL YOU CAN ONE? ?

Amedi Chanamba
Amedi Chanamba
5 years ago

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Munthu uyu ndiye mukumulora kuti aziyakhula ,,,,,,apereke kaye ndalama zamisonkho yomwe anthu okalamba amapereka zowona anthu okalamba azibedwa

JOHN
JOHN
5 years ago

I HEAR CHAPONDA IS POSITIONING HIMSELF TO REPRESENT DPP AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2019 ELECTIONS IF MUTHARIKA DOES NOT RUN…………………… THIS WILL BE THE END OF MALAWI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I WILL LEAVE THIS COUNTRY!!!

Onyo Chakhaula Chichaponda
Onyo Chakhaula Chichaponda
5 years ago
Reply to  JOHN

Mudzapita kuti tsono komwe amalandira anthu opanda nzeru ngati inuyo?

Sugzo
Sugzo
5 years ago

Its true Mussa and Mwanamvekha are in Chilima’s camp its not a lie. Fortunately APM knows thus without Chaponda telling him. Even the trusted guys at statehouse have joined Chilima. The only problem is that ordinafy Lomwes are not ready for Chilima. Obama is very loyal to APM.

LEGO
5 years ago

That shows there is not unity in DPP all they know is to higher the thugs to harass innocent people.Remember when Mlaka Maliro released his first album entitled ”DZANJA LALEMBA”, and indeed this song goes to DPP now.

Ma Njovu Sadutsamo Twice
Ma Njovu Sadutsamo Twice
5 years ago

List yo taiona koma ngakhale anthu akudana ndi Chaponda ikuoneka kuti ndi yeniyeni ya absalom ndi a gulukunyinda akufuna kusokoneza zinthu mchipani chathu chokondeka cha DPP. ati kufuna kugulitsa chipani ndi mbamu. Koma ana achepadi. Nzoona chomwe wamkulu angaone atakhala pansi mwana sangachione ngakhale ataimilira. Ife 2019 ndi APM bomaaaaaaaaaaaa mpaka 2024 woooooooooooooooooooooooo. Ena ndi awa akuthamanga ati kukakhazikitsana mmaudinndo mawa lino a Tambala Wakwida. Morale ati chifukwa cha Mia basi kuiwala kuti Mia yo adawathidzimulitsa amake ali ku chipani chija cha ma lock.

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

If any of the political leaders take internal matter to the public or holds an interview to talk about internal matters then obviously they would be exposing themselves as untrustworthy therefore not worth being in politics. Discipline in politics is very critical and if any member demonstrates luck of judgement then the public should not ever trust such people.

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