DPP fend off pressure to fire Chaponda over corruption charges: ‘Presumption of innocence’
Former Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda remained under pressure from campaigners anxious to oust him from his position of vice-president (Southern Region) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) but has said he is not going away.
Chaponda, the Ivy League trained lawyer turned politician—alongside two businesspersons Rashid Tayub of Transglobe Produce Export Limited and Grace Mijiga Mhango, who also chairs the Grain Traders and Processors Association of Malawi—were arrested in connection with alleged corrupt practices during the procurement of maize at the height of a food shortage crisis that gripped the country last year.
He is answering three corruption-related charges linked to the controversial procurement of maize from Zambia.
There has been calls for President Peter Mutharika to remove Chaponda from the position in DPP to send a clear message to Malawians that the party does not condone corruption. And DPP strongman Kondwani Nankhumwa, who took over from Chaponda as government leader in Parliament, is backing the move as he strongly believes it is awkward for President Mutharika to have someone suspected of corruption deputising him
But Chaponda said his court cases on corruption-related charges remain a private matter to him and cannot be discussed.
Chaponda said he is not leaving his DPP vice presidency post as the party’s National Governing Committee (NGC) has not discussed his issue “and I have attended all meetings.”
DPP spokesman Francis Kasaila also said Chaponda need “presumption of innocence” and will be allowed to hold his position as second-in command in the ruling party.
However, commentators argue that though Chaponda remains innocent until proven guilty, in the court of public opinion, he may be looked at as the poster child of everything that is wrong with the ruling DPP.
“Innocent or guilty, Chaponda—fairly or unfairly—is being portrayed as the microcosm of the leadership rot that the DPP has bestowed on the country and its resultant under-development,” wrote newspaper columnist Ephraim Munthali.
Blantyre-based political analyst, Vincent Kondowe, who says keeping Chaponda on the powerful vice-president of DPP is raising questions on the seriousness of the ruling party in the fight against corruption in the country.
“DPP is still recognizing him as the party’s Vice President for the South which is raising questions on how serious the party is in the fight against corruption.” Kondowe told Radio Islam.
“Here we have got a head of state who has been always maintaining he would strive to fight corruption and here again we have a governing political party which has been always maintaining that it would strive to fight corruption. Keeping someone who is answering corruption charges is an insult to all Malawians and a mockery to governance principles,” Kondowe said.
He however observed that it is high time for DPP to remove Chaponda from the position to send a clear message to Malawians that the party does not condone corruption.
“I believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty by the competent court but the party has no option but to fire Chaponda on the position otherwise people may conclude that the party’s leadership knows something hence they are afraid that if fired, Chaponda will spill the beans that he was alone,” he added.
Mzuzu-based political analyst Charles Kajoloweka, who has been one of the vocal citizens against Chaponda in the Zambia maize imports saga, said politically the corruption case against Chaponda “becomes an indelible stamp of corruption on the DPP as a party”.
He said: “So, it is up to the party to redeem itself from this indelible mark of corruption. It should also be a reminder to President [Peter] Mutharika to demonstrate that he means what he says that his government champions zero tolerance of corruption.”
However, Kajoloweka, who is the executive director of Youth and Society (YAS), said Chaponda’s prosecution also gives an opportunity to Mutharika and his party to stamp out corruption.
The former minister, who is Mulanje South West member of Parliament (MP), denies any wrong doing.
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I can see and read the comments here of these hired journalists to defend Chaponda and attack Nankhumwa without valid reason on him.
Keep on enjoying Chaponda’s money but the law will still catch on him for his corruption involvement on maize gate.
Not guilty until proven guilty by the court of law. So presumption ndiye ndi ambiri 9ngoganiziridwawo.build a strong case against him , all those who have got evidence must come forward with the evidence so that he can not survive in the court of law otherwise if the National Prosecution Authority doesn’t have a strong case against him then azathera kumulipira atawasumira.
Kajoloweka and friends should know that divide and rule wont work on us.Chaponda is our VP for the south and we will support him all the way.Nsanje si Umuna DPP WOYEEEEEE
Ngati kuchoka kwa Chaponda kuti kuyakitse magetsi ndiye achokedi.Koma ngati wina atenge u Vice president ife zausilu ayi.Nthawi yandale tilibe
Soon or later we shall find out the truth.For now Chaponda is not guilty so leave him alome
Why should he be fired? even a kid knows he will win his case.Zomakamba nkhani zopanda umboni za Chaponda zithe 2017.Tikumvana?
So Chaponda should step down or be fired because greedy Kajoloweka watumidwa kuti atero? very funny indeed. Akuleka kusiya nankhumwa? akuona ngati milandu yake ija naye tinaiwala? zina osamaziputa dala.
The CHAPONDA i know and the chaponda i read in the media are totally different.The man is hardworking and very generous.I know him from the days of being director of research, to being foreign affairs minister.Some of us do understand why Mutharika is still keeping him as veep for the south.It wouldn’t be surprising to seeing Nankhumwa go and him staying. The only difference is that Chaponda is loyal, Nankhumwa is friends with Media period.
Chaponda is not guilty until proven by the court.For now let him be.APM Being intelligent and patient as he is , knows that thats why he is not firing him.Awa akajolowekawa nawonso atha kuchemelera zamathanyula ndi nzawo Trapence. A nankhumwawa amaona ngati angakhale president iwowa?hahahahahahahahaha
Ndizosabisanso kuti Chaponda was framed koma ana achepa.Mulungu si munthu.chitsiru chotchedwa kajolowekachi chatumidwa.Zisiyeni inu si a DPP.Pangani chanu chipani
Kaya zanu izo koma chomwe tikuonapo apa ife ndi plan ya Nankhumwayu.mwinanso ndiyemweyu anapangira chiwembu mzakeyu.Ma CSO akumalawi amayuzidwa ndi mazoba ndiye ndizosadabwitsa kuti kajoloweka watumidwa ndi bwana achewa.Osangodikira ku court ko bwanji?
kodi ali ndi milandu ndi chaponda yekha ku malawi kuno? ? He should not step down.The court wil decide his fate.Kodi Nankhumwa yake ija ilipati akunena anzake apa?Nawo AKajoloweka dyera zikuvutani.Khato akufuna 80 miliyoni yake uko. Salima waterway yakupalangani uko za ziii
From the word go i knew it that the whole Chaponda story was a lie by someone in the ruling who wanted Chaponda out, for his political mileage.He burnt the offices so that when GTC is cleared zidzaoneke ngati its because evidence inasowa.He wanted him gone so that he should replace him as leader of house in parliament.He established Mzati radio in Mulanje for his future presidential ambitions.Now he wants Chaponda out so that he becomes Vice President for the south.We are not fools Kondwani Nankhumwa we can see! i hope the boss sees
If anything Mutharika should fire this Nankhumwa witch!! He likes backstabbing his friends so that he should be the only heavyweight from the lomwe belt.At first he fought Kaliati, then Chaponda to be leader of house in parliament and he also fights Chilima. Chaponda is right,he should not pave for this goon.
This is not fair.Is he the only one answering charges in this country? How about Nankhumwa? Uladi Mussa? Mesa nawonso ali ndi milandu? Chaponda is not guilty until proven so. This cheap politics Nankhumwa, don’t be desperate like that.
If kajoloweka is a political analyst then we are all political analysts. Actually why would you refer to any critic as a political analyst? Zauchitsiru basi.
Which MCP? I hope not the one that butchered three MInisters and an MP in 1983 at Thambani in Mwanza.
Which Chakwera? I hope not the one building a house at Maula in Lilongwe and arrogantly refusing to disclose the source of the funds being used in the project. I hope not the one diverting party vehicles for the use of his family. Not the one that illegally connected water to the MCP headquarters in Lilongwe. His thefty of water resulted into bad service delivery by LWB in Area 18.
kaya zanu izo mbava inu. Ife a Malawi tinagwirirzana MCP and DR. Chakweratu basi.
Chaponda will survive the nankhumwa plots.we all know its kondwani at work. Is chaponda the only one answering charges in DPP? If u want chaponda out of DPP go and move the courts to help you just like the way kajoloweka did. Let courts decide if chaponda is guilty or not. Not just public opinions.
Now cadet fighting fellow cadet!
That’s what happens to everything that’s founded on hate. DPP is a party of hatred. It hated northerners like never before. Now that there is no notherner of influence in DPP they are turning their hate on themselves!
Oyenda ndi lupanga, ndi lupanga lake lomwelo lomwe lidzamuyike mmanda!
Mbava 2019 paulendo basi atibela ndikupha kokwanira where is Njaunju’s case???
Muthalika does not make decisions he is made decision always shame
But Nankhumwa is talking sense and he is trying to protect the party. If you keep Chaponda as party vice president South you will never see votes even from his own constituency. So if you don’t listen him it’s up to you guys in DPP ife tili nyodoo 2019
How can non signatories of the party documents at the Registar ( Political Parties) remove someone from the party or position who currently is the sole bonafide signatory after the demise of a colleague thus indeed bitting a finger that feeds you.
This is purely Nankhumwa’s scheme. No matter what happens, he will try all he can to see the back of Chaponda.
Nankhumwa need to be checked otherwise he will cost DPP big time. Nankhumwa is dangerously pushing Muthalika and DPP out of government come 2019. Nankhumwa is too proud and thinks he is bigger than the DPP party and the president.
Nankhumwa is in my view trying to protect the image of the party. Why maintain CHALINDA as second in command while everybody know he is a thief? How will Malawians trust this party of thieves? Did Nanknhumwa spilled the beans in the first place?
ZANU izo, Ife wantu ndi Chakwera 2019 boma……mbava zones out!