Chaponda insists ‘I will never, on my own, resign’: Malawi Parliament opens parallel inquiry on ‘maizegate’
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda is clinging on to his post as he insists he’s done nothing wrong in the Zambian maize misprocurement saga.
Chaponda has come under civil society organisations (CSOs) fire who have called for his resignation, saying he would “jeopardise the investigations” into the ‘maizegate’.
The two Parliamentary Committees—Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and Public Accounts—separately made similar demands.
But Chaponda issued a media statement on Wednesday made available to Nyasa Times, arguing his involvement in the misprocurement was minimal as State-produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe was the one in charge.
“At the outset, let me report that, my involvement was minimal as the main buyer of the maize was ADMARC and not the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development. As most of you, may be aware, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development oversees the operations of some parastatals including ADMARC. While the Ministry focuses on providing policy direction and guidance, the parastatals manage day to day operational issues of their institutions and they are answerable to their Boards,” Chaponda said.
According to Chaponda he led a three man delegation to Zambia on 8th May, 2016 where he held a meeting with his counterpart, the Zambia;s Minister of Agriculture who gave Malawi delegtaoon an approval to buy at least 100,000 MT of maize against the planned 300,000 MT.
“I came back to Malawi on 19th May, 2016 and I left the team to contact the relevant suppliers. Upon return to Malawi, the team informed my office that the trip was futile as they had identified only one supplier whose price was exorbitant, at USD395/tonne. As such, no agreement was
made.
“ADMARC then undertook a follow up trip search for suppliers. It was during this visit that ADMARC reported that they met a number of suppliers including Kiloswe Commuter and Courier Ltd and ZCF. However, the credible agreement was reached with Zambia Co-operative Federation (ZCF) to supply 100,000 MT of maize. Thereafter, ADMARC held discussions with Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development to pay ZCF through a Letter of Credit (USD 34.5 Million) from PTA Bank,” Chaponda explains in the statement.
Subsequently, Chaponda said, Malawi government learned that the Zambian Government had banned maize exports and by that time ZCF had not yet started supplying the maize.
“Therefore, on 11th December, 2016, as a special Envoy of the President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, I led a delegation to meet the President of Republic of Zambia on the export of maize to Malawi due to the fact that, a contract was already signed between
the ZCF and ADMARC.
“I arrived in the Republic of Zambia on the same day, met the President of the Republic of Zambia and thereafter attended a Press Briefing conducted by my counterpart, the Minister of Agriculture in Zambia during which she announced that the Government of Zambia had approved export of 100,000 MT of maize to Malawi. I came back from that trip on 12th December, 2016. This was on the understanding that this was a Government to Government arrangement.
“I have also been informed by ADMARC, that no payment has been made to ZCF as the contract provided for a minimum of delivery of 10,000 MT before any demand is made to the Bank, to cash on the Letter of Credit. To date ZCF has supplied only 4,000 MT of maize,” Chaponda said.
Meanwhile, Malawi Parliamentary Committee of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development has opened a parallel investigations into the ‘maizegate’ to investigate corrupt elements in the matter after noting that commission of inquiry appointed by President Peter Mutharika may just be to silence the inquisitive Malawians.
Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture chairperson Joseph Chidanti Malunga said the committee is doinf its own investigations “to get to the bottom of the matter.”
He said their first report will be issued on Januray 31, 2016 when the presidential commission of inquiry is also expected to submit its finding to the Head of State.
Chaponda has since welcomed the inquiry by President Mutharika “to investigate the matter at length.”
But the minister has maintained that he will not succumb to civil society demands to resign over the matter, saying those making the calls are jealous of him.
Admarc chief executive officer Mulumbe has also denied any wrong doing in the matter.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
M’dala iwe Chaponda. Can you explain the source of millions of money (cash) you were depositing at the bank?
Can you explain why umafuna ATI bill kuti MPs should not discuss? Ndipo pano tokufufuza mbava iwe. Kubela anthu a flood victims? Umudziwanso Mulungu.
Nawenso Mgeme Kalilani, samala. Ukufuna kuuza ife kuti Peter sangalowelele kuchotsa Admarc head; ndiye kuti some cases appointing/dismissing/etc ankapanga m’mbuyomu in such institutions amalakwitsa? Bwera poyera kuti tifukule nkhani za mtundu uwu.
Very few thieves accept wrongdoing
He can not resign typical African politicians. But weather he does not resign to day. Tomorrow he will end. When JB took over he was nobody. This is coming. His dream of becoming next leader he can forget. He is the most hated minister. To be a leader???
Pepani anamalila onse tikutinso pepani. Malilo a Mcp tidzaika 2019. Otsogola ndi mphasa adzakhala olemekezeka ex leader of opposition bwana Chakwera
Oyala nkhata bwana Richard Msowoya
Zativuta ife a Mcp chifukwa cha bodza la Chakwera mufuna njila zodula zokalowela Ku palace
Pena tdzayetsenso 2024 ngati sitifa ndi hiv aids
Pepani sikulalata koma cbilungamo pano pa Malawi
Bravo cgaponda. Don’t give them chance these idiots. They are going to vomit blood
Already Chakwera is depressed and has diarrhea. He thought he would win by telling lies
Chakwera should be the first person to resign in Mcp.
How can a so called reverend tell lies .
Mcp tili pamavuto.
Is the spirit of Kamuzu aware of this mess by Chakwera in his party as a founder
Please please Mcp take cover 2019 is very close.you will face serious casualties than 2014 because of this Chakwera
MARK MY WORD
Don’t think Iam crazy
What Bwana Chaponda is saying ADMARC has not paid anything to Zambia and the line of credit was not granted from PTA. Madobadoba anangobweresa only 4000 MT of maize instead of 100000 MT. Yah Malawi wafikapo
I don’t think minimal level of involvement is a justification for no wrong doing. You can be involved only a little but influence big. By the way, what does the honourable minister mean by minimal involvement? How far did he go with his minimal involvement in influencing suspiscious decisions? After all chimanga chakenso ndi choti its too expensive to be accessed by average Malawian, what the hell!
act fast on cashgate money mulimbana ndi ndalama zachimanga zoti sizinalipiridwe,kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk nsete za anthu zedi
MR CHAPONDA, PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK FROM YOUR CONTROVERSIES. ALL WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IS THAT YOU SHOULD RESIGN SO THAT YOUR NAME CAN BE CLEARED IF INDEED YOU DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG.
ONCE YOUR NAME IS CLEARED, YOU CAN BE RE-APPOINTED. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU???
Never seen a dull president like APM….so passive that he cant act.Akuti a professor…my foot!…Those defending chaponda we know you are paid to do that. …
If i were Mr president i wanna fire CHAPONDA because these are the people that tarnish the image of the president as well us DR SAULOS even our loving party DPP MR PRESIDENT can you hear what MR CHILIMA is saying AVOID MEDIOCRITY LEADER
He who has ears, let him hear. An advisor is not an enemy but a well wisher. One person can bring disaster if improperly handled at the expense of many.
Empty tins make a lot of noise. So you think the govt is stupid that it can bow to your demands that someone should resign? There is no evidence in all what you are talking about. You say Chaponda should pave way. Paving way for who? Is it not the same you who are saying Anastazia will be biased? Its just only 2 years but you look too tired of being in opposition. You forget that there is another 21/2 years before elections which indications are there that you will have another shameful defeat. Kenaka timva kuti Chakwera wakomoka because his ambitions for a short-cut into govt have not worked. If Chakwera is a true man of God why did God not favour him in the 2014 elections? The man is cursed and will never enter the bedrooms of Sanjika. Let him continue barking like a dog but will end like his predecessor JZU who thought will one day rule Malawi. In Africa it is very rare that one family can leave presidency to another relative in a democratic manner as we did in 2014. Is this not a blessing from God? Mudziwanso , 2019 ndi pano? Mulira magazi muona.
@ santana manyazi mulibe? abaleanu siomwenso akuvutika ndi njala kumudziku,,inudi nde a satanaditu
Tiye kukhothi ukanenera konko zibolobosha zakozo. Apa ndiye basi watheka tsinzinamtole iwe. Wachifwamba, unduna uliwonse umbava wako ukuwonekera. Kapena ndiwe chishangotu kumbuyo kwakoko kuli chimbava chachikulu chomwe chimakutuma. Umboni ndi kusurvivor ma reshaffle.
Akuba amenewa tatopa nawo bwanji osangotula pansi ma udindo awo?Ndipo chimanga chimene akutinamizacho palibe amene akugula ku Admarc chifukwa chikudula mitengo, anthu akugula kwa ma vendor ndiye pali nzelu pamenepa?
Akuba amenewa tatopa nawo bwanji osangotula pansi ma udindo awo?Ndipo chimanga chimene akutinamizacho palibe amene akugula ku Admarc chifukwa chikudula mitengo, anthu akugula kwa ma vendor ndiye pali nzelu pamenepa?Chonde ngati mwalephela kuyendesa boma tulani pansi maudindo anu.
Agalu koopsya. These guys ndi ongofunika kupha basi. What they do is killing Malawians. They need death by stoning
Anthu a jelasi inu: leave Bwana Chaponda alone, so he can work on the hunger problem that is devastating Malawi right now. There is a reason why the word “jelasi” is mentioned in our National Anthem: why can’t you appreciate a very hard working, results oriented and one of the most effective ministers in this government? Is it because he’s may also be one of the strategists in his Party? And so the cries for his downfall are a facade for Party politics.
The man is not going away. He will be going to his office … just waive to him, and wish him well, when you see him being chauffeured.
Let the Commission do its job.
Those of you who think Chaponda may be naive, and all his explanations are an attempt to hood wink the detractors, are wrong.
Chaponda has a lot of friends in Zambia because he lived there in the late 70s at colored quarters in Lusaka near Emma scale police. Of course he was unemployed that time. Most of his friends were crooks who travelled between Zambia and Zaire. I have no doubt that he insisted buying maize in Zambia because he knew he was going to benefit from the deal . Why did we have conflicting statements from Chaponda and Good all on the maize purchase a few months ago?
The way Bwana Dr George Chaponda defends himself in these issues, Malawians need be extremely careful in electing their leaders. He is clinging to a ministerial post now, what more if he is elected president of Malawi. All he is saying are excuses and signs of incompetent and irresponsible.
How can the whole minister push blame to a junior and yet he clearly mentions that agreement was between two governments but knew that Kiloswe was the one who would supplier maize.
He knew Kiloswe was not a government entity. why did he not cancel the contract yet he went to Zambia to renegotiate contract.
I cannot take that …………
The problem with Peter is too weak to stand up or say NO to Chaponda. Malawians u should have known that Peter withiout support of Bingu would be useless leader. How much does he know about Malawi? Peter is afraid of Chaponda and his friends. Also with his age and ill he has NO power. This is the reason they are trying to remove Chilima. Think to have Chilima as president How Malawi will look like? First time with a young leader. Chilima and Chakwela will make a good couple for Malawi. Even If one becomes a leader and one opposition it will make a good group. If Chilima remains in DDP and become a leader he will be forced to have those evils. The best for him is to stand as independent candidate. Support him. He US the future of Malawi. It can be beginning of young educated generation. Stop old men. They are not good for growing nation.
zitsiru za anthu,they just encourage umbava muno mu Malawi.
Agalu akuba awa nkuwona mu UN amagwiramo sanabwereko ndi cholozeka
Chiponda adaponda. There are many holes in his statement
With all these details, what else do THE OPPOSITION WANT? The opposition is good at making noise which culminates from jealousy. They have all along tried to create lies on this govt and Chaponda in particular but nothing so far has come out as truth. How can a sane person underrate the duties of Anastazia Msosa ? So you think the arch-enemies of Chaponda in Parliamentary committees can come out with a true report? Mwagwa nayotu inu.
Minister Chaponda, why can’t you just obey and resign if not found guilty after investigation you will be reinstated again. why cling to it? Pave way for the investigations and if not found guilty you will be in again. does it mean you are involved in this maize saga? so why worry?
Can someone tell HE to act fast on the Minister because he is likely to eclipse his political career. We in diaspora are really saddened by these developments. Politically, this is going to produce chaos locally in Malawi and relegate Malawi to a failed state for a decade. Public unrest is inevitable. Now after Parliament, then it will be mass protest. Mind you there is very high disgruntlement out there due to water, electricity, unemployment, business corrapse, drugs, low motivation etc. The civil disobedience may be unmanageable. Contain this now by firing the Minister and dismissal of irresponsible ad arch racket. Also deal with Ministry top officials because this is not first time. There was tractogate, coupon gate, one cow one family gate and now it is mighty maize gate. Act fast before they add tobacco gate, cotton gate, beansgate and groundnuts gate.
you sound acient