Chaponda to run again on DPP’s ticket, wins primaries
Former minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda who escaped jail after acquittal in corruption-related charges regarding the 2017 maize procurement deal from Zambia, has won in the ongoing governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) primaries.
Chaponda is incumbent member of Parliament (MP) Mulanje South West Constituency and despite no longer being DPP vice president for the South, he remains the party’s strongman.
His constituents in party electorate endorsed him to be the candidate in the May 21 2019 elections.
Chaponda, who is heading some key committees for DPP strategising for the elections, was set free after the Zomba Magistrate Court found he had no case to answer in corruption-related charges regarding the 2017 ‘maize-gate’ scandal.
The former minister said he had always maintained that everything was done in the best interest of Malawians in view of the dire food situation the country faced when he was minister.
“Unfortunately, this matter was greatly politicized and the facts were twisted as part of a systematic and vicious smear campaign against me. Notwithstanding the attempts to tarnish my name, ” said Chaponda.
Chaponda was arrested on July 19 2017 alongside Rashid Tayub, one of the directors of Transglobe Produce Export Limited, and Grace Mijiga Mhango, a businesswoman and also chairperson of the Grain Traders and Processors Association of Malawi (GTPA). They were all acquitted.
Malawi President Peter Mutharika ordered an investigation into a $34.5 million government maize order, after a Zambian opposition leader said he had seen documents showing Malawi had been charged $345 per ton for 100 000 tonnes of Zambian white maize worth $215 a ton.
In Blantyre City West, incumbent DPP legislator Trasizio Gowelo floored a one-time MP for the constituency Bertha Masiku.
The incumbent legislator for Ndirande Malabada, Aaron Sangala trounced his opponents to book himself a ticket to run again on DPP’s ticket.
While MP for Blantyre City Central Themba Mkandawire lost the primaries to Chipiliro Mpinganjira on Friday.
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ndiye ndiwe onyansa. nkhope ngati peyala lakupsya loponda
chaponda anaba sichimanga koma anaba miyala ndi minga
Chapo tsopano
MAIZEGATE! ……….DPP is full of thieves we don’t need anymore!
Zomvetsa chisoni kodi anthu a ku Mulanje ndiwotani. Kulibe anyamata a record abwino olowa ndale kodi. DPP why allow him back now.?Do you under estimate integrity of the people in Malawi?As a country we don’t want crooks and dishonest people to be in government. Chilima be a dictator only in Chapondas case send him to Maula prison.
This man is a big thief. Don’t ever allow him into government position. He can fool himself and bribe people to win primaries. Dr Chilima please deal with this thief send him to prison for the millions he stole from government. He should the first big fish to go to jail next year
Innocent until proven guilty….. In this case Chaponda was suspected, accused, charged, prosecuted and latter acquitted. He is therefore innocent. If you believe in our judicial system then leave him alone.
Otherwise, Politically Chaponda was and is still feared by many … including some from his own party. He is indeed a bulldozer as he makes things happen.
Congratulations to George…. as this shows that pipo from his area love him.
Only in Malawi where thieves can run for office DPP muli Mbava zokhazokha starting with Mr Maliseche
The man looks very handsome.
imeneyi sinkani yabwino chaponda akufuna kubwelela Ku parliament 2019, nanga chimanga chatu
@evance: chimanga cija munadya kale kale! Chaponda sanaba, minga khoti linanenela muja. Kodi simunawerenga nkhani imeyija eti?