DPP trashes Chaponda’s North-South antagonism remarks: Kalaile Banda says blaming people of North Malawi is crass

The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has distanced itself from remarks Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda made that his being targeted on maize saga smacked of North-South antagonism.

Kasaila: Maizegate is nor regional issue as Chaponda is saying

Nyasa Times on Monday quoted Chaponda speaking on Capital Radio’s Daybreak Malawi program that he is being targeted because he is “a minister from the south” considering that Finance, Economic planning and development minister Goodall Gondwe, whose ministry authorised the loan guarantee to buy maize from Zambia, was in the clear.

Chaponda said Gondwe was not in hot soup because he is from north Malawi.

He remarks were widely condemned by commentators, accusing the embattled minister of playing an ethnic card in a desperate move to create collateral damage.

And DPP spokesman Francis Kasaila said the party saw such remarks as Chaponda’s personal sentiments and not a reflection on any divisions in the party.

Kasaila, who is also minister of foreign affairs, said DPP did not see the issue of maizegate as a tribal or regional issue.

“What Chaponda said is his personal views and not the position of DPP,” said Kasaila.

Opposition People’s Party (PP) member Ackson Kalaile Banda has since condemned Chaponda for claiming that people from the north are the ones championing for his downfall.

He argued that Chaponda was reported in the newspapers that he was chased from his own constituency two months ago, “was that people from the north?”

Kalaile Banda further asked: “Commission of Inquiry chaired by retired Chief Justice Anastanzia Msosa recommended that he should be investigated by ACB because of his dubious role played [in maize importation]. Is that people from the north?”

He queried why Chaponda hates people from the north so much: “Last time he advised late president Bingu wa Mutharika that DPP can do without the people from north.”

Meanwhile, a parliamentarian from north Malawi, Khumbo Kachali of Mzimba South West said in parliament that he was pleased that Chaponda is out as Leader of the House and that Kondwani Nankhumwa is the remaining the House chief, saying parliament has started enjoying fruits of his leadership.

In the House there was uproar by most opposition MPs who came up with a series of points of order, demanding that Chaponda should not be reinstated as Leader of the House and that he should also be removed from the House.

Other MPs suggested that embattled Chaponda should also resign as a minister following the release of a report by a commission of inquiry President Peter Mutharika appointed to probe how Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) imported maize from Zambia.

In the report presented to Mutharika on Saturday, the commission recommended that Chaponda should be investigated further by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) over a conduct that was “most inappropriate, suspicious and raising issues of corrupt practices” in Malawi’s questionable importation of relief maize from the neighbouring country.

The commission recommended that Chaponda should further be investigated by the Anti Corruption Bureau.

A socio-economic commentator Emily Mkamanga said in quotes reported in the press that the Maizegate scandal has opened many people’s eyes “and their resolve that the leaders must exhibit high moral and professional sides.”

And  Chancellor College political scientist Boniface Dulani highlighted that the commission of inquiry report clearly says Chaponda’s dealings on the maize issue was suspicious and the reputation of DPP being projected “is not good as well as that of the President and simply because of one person.”

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Chimbavi
Chimbavi
7 years ago

If Chaponda mistakenly becomes Malawi Head of State, God forbid, North will be dead……

BIMA
BIMA
7 years ago

If you have hatred in your
Heart REPENT together with CHAPONDA God will
Forgive and bless you

Stop this nonsense of NORTH CENTER OR SOUTH

Iwinston msowoya
Iwinston msowoya
7 years ago

I have gone through comments attributed to the ugly Chaponda and tribalism in Malawi which in fact,has reached its zenith.Right now,Muthalika and his serviles most of whom being untutored and dead dood.It is unbelievable for someone to allege that Lomwes are more educated than Tumbukas,the Jews of Malawi.For this contributor,Malawians of bright intellect,must forgive him for he does not know what he is upto.Just to enlighten him,I would like to discipline this simpleton in the sense that he could not compare his rat-eaters with the worldly-wise Tumbukas who despite their small population,have profoundly contributed to the independence struggle of our… Read more »

Che Wanimiliyoni
Che Wanimiliyoni
7 years ago

Racial issues are very sensitive but the more people talk their mind the more they help simmer tension. Tension betwn the North and South didn’t start today. The core values of their traditional beliefs in terms of religion, education, trade and family ties are poles apart therefore the best way is to let people banter it out and it ends there. In South Africa, United States and UK racial issues between whites and blacks are freely expressed in the media. Julius Malema in South Africa sings about killing the Boers and Donald Trump talks about Black American criminals but they… Read more »

Gugile Chiwetoh.
7 years ago

it is really ashame to DPP as well as APM coz he was backing Chaponda Chimanga a day before the release of the report. The report fingered Chaponda Chimanga what a disigusting man is he . If i was him i would have simple resign but because his face nusty black like the previous police cars colour during Dr Banda’s era . His big mouth like a gandaganda is talking shit he want to did malawians oh my Lord feel sorry for our malawi we dont want to fight one another by the infiuence of the words of this sily… Read more »

MCP die hard
7 years ago

guys you dont know what you are talking about you idiots,
this is total tribalism and war with the Lomwes. Chaponda was just smart to say south vs niorth,
if you know your history it has been like that, you argue with me and you can say anything i dont care this has always and is the truth. all these issues are being pushed by people from the north.central region people are not much into it they are not tribalists,
you like it or not one day chaponda will be the president of this country.

manwirio
7 years ago

wanangwa you are an idiot. keep your mouth shut
Tumbukas agaisnt lomwe people because they thought they were the only educated people in malawi withourt knowing that there are a lot of educated people among the lomwe than them. Kamuzu tried to surpress them but today you can see. During kamuzu people didnt know that lomwe exists, wagwanawo wanangwa go back to your roots

mcp diehard
7 years ago

wanangwa you are just a tumbuka who doesnt reason. Ask your fellow tumbukas will tell you how much they hate lomwe people,
you were born outside malawi just keep quiete

MCP SUPPORTER
7 years ago

guys you dont know what you are talking about you idiots,
this is total tribalism and war with the Lomwes. Chaponda was just smart to say south vs niorth,
if you know your history it has been like that, you argue with me and you can say anything i dont care this has always and is the truth. all these issues are being pushed by people from the north.central region people are not much into it they are not tribalists,
you like it or not one day chaponda will be the president of this country.

john
john
7 years ago

If this country is failing to develop it is because of retrogressive, backward thinking, selfish, corrupt and stiff-necked leaders like Chaponda. In principle this man is bad and more evil than Lucifer. Look Malawians are failing to buy maize in ADMARC depots because of his ill-motives. May the Lord have us mercy and hear our cry.

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