Chaponda hits UK top newspaper over corruption: Fired Malawi minister in emergency aid ‘scam’

Fired  Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Geogre Chaponda has his headlines in  British  newsapaper, The Times for bad reasons  – for his involvement in maizegate scandal and corruption allegations.

Chaponda is facing investigations from Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) following a recommendation by the  presidential commission of inquiry into Malawi’s maize imports from Zambia.

In The Times, the British newspaper  reported that a Malawian government minister who visited Scotland to ask for millions of pounds extra in foreign aid “has been forced to resign while officials investigate an alleged scam involving the supply of emergency food to the African country.”

It noted that Chaponda, 74,  was relieved of his cabinet post after a raid uncovered £180,000 hidden in his home in Lilongwe, the Malawian capital.

The paper reported that last year Malawi High Commissioner to UK, Kena Mphonda, wrote Scottish governe,tn asking for money to help in Malawi’s food crisis, saying: “As a result of the maize production decline registered in 2015-16, the country’s food security situation is characterised by a large number of people in need of food assistance.”

He said that the government was buying maize to alleviate the crisis, but added: “We would be most grateful for any assistance the Scottish government may offer in this regard.”

The paper report that two months later, in April 2016, Chaponda became minister for agriculture and has been accused of corruption over the emergency supply of maize to millions of people at risk of starvation.