Goodall buoy Chaponda in court: Confirms issuing licence for dollars found stashed in suitcases
State prosecutors had a rude awakening on Tuesday at Zomba Magistrate Court court when its 11th witness, Finance, Economic Planning and Development Minister Goodall Gondwe vindicated claims made by former minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda in the case relating to the Zambian maize import transactions that he got permit to keep foreign currency.
Chaponda claimed he had a licence of possession of foreign currency that he obtained from Minister of Finance in 2004.
Between US$58,000 and MK124 million in cash was found after a search at Chaponda’s home last year.
Testifying before Zomba Magistrate Court, Gondwe said indeed Chaponda had a licence for the forex.
Asked by lead state prosecutor MacMillan Chakhala what powers does a Finance Minister have pertaining to issuance of foreign currency permits, Gondwe said : “The Exchange Control Act says the minister is the authority in foreign currency, but can also designate the role to Reserve Bank of Malawi.”
He told the court: “But I can exercise that at anytime.”
Gondwe confirmed that he indeed issued the permit to Chaponda as directed by the Head of State in 2004 to keep some reasonable foreign currency because “he had an ailment that made him travel regularly for treatment and also as a foreign affairs minister at that particular time.”
The Finance Minister, who took 58 minutes to testify while seated, could also not explicitly explain whether the licence allowed Chaponda to keep forex in his residence or at the bank, only saying “the licence allowed Chaponda to keep a reasonable amount of forex wherever he travelled.”
Asked to explain what ‘reasonable’ meant in the permit, Gondwe could not define reasonable amount because charges differ time to time.
“I think your guess is as good as mine on that one,” he said while emphasizing that the permit was issued both to Chaponda as a person and a foreign affairs minister and it remains valid up to now.
In his testimony, Gondwe contradicted himself with his written statement tendered in court which indicated that he issued the licence to Chaponda in his capacity as minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation but in his oral testimony Gondwe said he was instructed by the President to issue the permit to Chaponda both in his capacity as a Cabinet minister and as an individual
On the maize purchase deal, Gondwe said there was no way Chaponda could have forced former Admarc chief executive office Foster Mulumbe to issue a contract to TransGlobe Produce Limited because the Ministry of Finance was central to the purchase.
Gondwe clearly said Chaponda did not act corruptly.
“The Head of State delegated Dr Chaponda to Zambia in his capacity as Minister of Agriculture to negotiate with the Zambian President on the possibility that we purchase maize there. At that time, there was no maize available for purchase in the whole Southern Africa except in Zambia.
” So it was two ways, Dr Chaponda was looking for maize in Zambia while I was looking for the same overseas. However, we were told by our colleagues from Zambia that we should wait for the elections before purchasing the maize,” he said.
Gondwe added that after the elections in Zambia, Chaponda went back to find if the maize was still there only to find that there was not enough for purchasing.
However, he reported that there was a possibility that there is maize in the country that can be purchased.
Gondwe said he met Chaponda’s co-accused, Rashid Tayub of Transglobe twice in his ministerial office.
“He showed me a letter that he can export maize from Zambia. During the first time, he had higher prices and during the second times he had a better offer,” he said.
Asked by prosecutor Chakhala as to who accompanied Tayub, Gondwe said he was accompanied by ‘a certain young man probably his relation and presidential adviser Symon Vuwa Kaunda.
Asked by lead defence lawyer Tamando Chokhotho whether the permit authorised Chaponda to keep foreign currency within the country, Gondwe said it was both within and outside.
“Well, it goes like this, as a minister or a person with an ailment, he might travel outside the country today and come back, then after two days there might also be a need for him to travel again, so obviously the currency should be at home,” said Gondwe.
He also retaliated that he knew not of any consultation between Mulumbe and Tayub on the maize purchase deal, when he was asked by lawyer representing Tayub, Jai Banda.
Gondwe also said Vuwa Kaunda played no role in the whole deal.
The former Cabinet minister, who is also vice-president for the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) responsible for Southern Region and member of Parliament (MP) Mulanje South West Constituency, is answering two criminal counts of misusing public office and possession of foreign currency without the lawful justification.
On the other hand, Tayub and Grace Mijiga-Mhango, a businessperson and chairperson of the Grain Traders and Processors Association of Malawi (GTPA, face offences of influencing a public officer to misuse public office and forgery, respectively. All the three pleaded not guilty.
They were arrested by ACB in July last year on suspicion of corruption relating to procurement of the K26 billion maize from Zambia.
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A Goodwill Gonndwe mwadzikumbira dzenje apa. Muyambe kutsogola ndinu. In case you thought saving Chaponda meant saving yourself, mwauponda. A strike action has to be organised to get you ousted from government.
In a country where morality and ethics are valued, public outcry would have been enough for the entire DPP executive and cabinet to appear before the national media and apologise. They would kneel on the floor, bow and show remorse. Public outcry and/or public perceptions should be taken seriously. Ordinary people should be looking up to its political leaders and not down on them. They should live with the highest level of integrity without question of their character. What we have here on the photo is graphic demonstration of “I don’t care” and “I am bigger than you” attitude. I am sure just looking at the photo many (not all of us probably) one would want to vomit. How much more do you want to embezzle to fill the already big tummies. Your own people, who you are supposed to care for, are dying due to lack of medicines, hunger etc and yet you keep millions of forex in your houses. Do you really have your conscious ticking or it has also bailed out to produce its little voice between your ears. Do the honourable and apologise to the nation and donate the stolen money to a village of your choice. God will judge you in the court of morality and there are no legal technicalities to abuse.
This is a clear testimony that the reason we are facing economic problems is the weakness in Mr Badall Gonndwe. Let’s force him out now!
Is was clear from the start that Chaponda was going to win the case. Anthu tinangokomedwa
his conscious will judge him. If he is indeed innocent then its good; if not, then he has a problem and will still have a case to answer with his maker or his own children will take the burden oh his behalf.
Unnu old vampire, You don’t like to see youths prosper, Only like to see youths suffer, Unnu set of vampire;
Unnu old vampire, Only trod upon creation, With your bloody meditation, Unnu set of vampire;
Unnu fight against upfullness, Unnu fight against creation, Unnu fight against Everything good for the younger generation;
Unnu old vampire, Unnu drink up the old wine, Have no place for the new mind; Unnu set of vampire;
Unnu fight against morality, You fight against integrity, Fight against everything good for the younger generation;
Unnu old vampire, Do unnu wickedness at midnight, And unnu humble when it’s daylight, Unnu set of vampire;
My Lord,
Allow me to cross examine the honorable minister of finance regarding his conduct and reasons for considering the said application for “forex permit” from honorable Chaponda back in 2004.
For your information, i am not a learned person but just as patriotic like many other Malawians hurting right now with your testimony, Hon. Minister.
Firstly, how does a Malawian minister give permit for someone to keep forex in his house (within and outside the country) while in UK, USA of RSA? Doesn’t these countries have their own rules and regulatory authorities with regards to keeping forex in the house?
Can the minister provide this court with hospital documents that Chaponda submitted as evidence supporting his application for the said permit?
How many similar permit has the minister insured? To whom?
Is RBM aware that there has been a separate back channel for obtaining the said permits? Is there documentation to back that?
Does the minister knows anyone post multiparty era who obtained a similar permit in a similar manner? If yes, can he submit documentation of the same to this court?
Lastly, Your Worship, allow me to speak for that young mother (without mentioning names) whose child died while on a long waiting list for external medical referral for that treatable medical condition because connected (elites) like Mr Gondwe and Mr Chaponda continue to jump to the front of the queue without considering whether their condition needs curative treatment or palliation.
My Lord, Let me speak fo that widow/widower/son/daughter who lost their loved one without evening knowing the diagnosis because the machines at our central hospitals were not working for weeks/months or worse still, service not available. Your Worship, they wish they could have a closure but they just can’t, how do they get a closure when they don’t know what killed their loved one?
Your honor, can I humbly ask the honorable minister of finance, in his free time, visit any of the above people (there are thousands out there) or he can visit nearest central hospital ward and speak to patient or family member (face to face, one on one)
of any patient waiting for life saving treatment or machine to be repaired, and tell them what he just told this court today, that despite the government sponsoring everything on Chaponda’s internal and external medical costs including travel and accommodation for him and his family, the minister considered it right to exercise his authority in this manner despite that RBM could have done it too. And that he went further to give him this permit, with no expiry date.
That minister has seen it fit to experiment with MK4 billion to constituencies even though no clear plans are available and moreover, similar funds were already allocated and reports of abuse are rampant while the only government CT scanner (@ KCH) is broken down for two (2) months now, with not even a flicker of hope that the machine will be repaired any time soon (waiting for diners to assist whilst we’re busy experimenting, are we serious?).
For the sake of time, My Lord, I rest my case.
In other news, Chaponda’s enemies who spent millions of kwacha’s to frame him continue to spend money on social media thinking they will influence judgement in the maize hoax case. Unfortunately, courts don’t take fact on social media.
Looking how the evidence is being presented Chaponda will win this case unless there is judge shopping.
proper indepent court would convict Chaponda; reserve bank disputed the licence; these political bedfellows were just salvaging DPP image and did it in poor way-
If you want Chaponda convicted perhaps try judge shopping just as you did in mzuzu that time koma as it is ku zomba game yagona.
Umboni wa Goodall wabooola mmimba ngati judgement yachitika kale kikikiki
The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) is the only authority mandated to issue such a licence. The issuance by the Minister should, at most, must be done on the recommendation of the regulator. In this case RBM. It could be possible RBM does not have a copy. It could also be possible that someone could reproduced it specifically for the court battle. But courts are astute.
It is baffling that Finance Minister assumed the duties of RBM on the licence issuance. It points to a parallel licencing issuance system. Is it backed by any law? However, was the said licence renewed in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 so as to reflect the motive of keeping foreign currencies?
It is understood that the licence was issued when one was holding Foreign Minister portfolio for, the post required frequent external travels. But was the licence transferable from the holder of the Foreign Affairs Ministry portfolio to that at Ministry of Agriculture post? May be the Reserve Bank of Malawi Act in the Laws of Malawi will take care of the arguments and all relevant facts.
The issue is not if Gondwe had a right to issue the Forex licence but if Chaponda had a licence to keep Foreign Currency. If the court has a case it must be against Gondwe who issued the licence. Whether the licence was valid is neither nor there. Read between the lines. Gondwe says Chaponda was sent to Zambia by the President. Our greatest problem is we are so gullible to falsehoods and the court does not act on falsehoods.. The case is falling like a deck of cards. Chaponda went to Zambia on both party and Government business. How can the prosecution uses birds of a feather to implicate each other.Chaponda was found tried and found guilty in a kangaroo court. So wake up people and smell the coffee. Journalists and the insatiable desire for “breaking news” are the ones who misled us.Their level of investigative journalism leaves a lot to be desired.They rush to print without varying some of these issues. Why do you think.Peter took time to fire Chaponda . Only under pressure from the gullible public and in a plot to pacify the public did they do that. No money changed hands. The prejudice that was supposed to have occurred in the event the LC was paid was only in the newspapers. Even the Parliamentary committee On Agriculture did not say Chaponda was guilty. They merely stated that he had a case to answer . Thus the onus was on Chaponda to prove himself innocent. Now the lead investigator is saying the case was not worthy of investigationLord have mercy. What trash. After spending the taxpayers money in Tickets and Allowances to Zambia.
The issue of Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) being the only authority mandated to issue a license is debatable. Goodall is not stupid.What if there is that provision? These are high level people and there could be exceptions.
Imagine the way they twisted the 577 billion to 236 billion only god knows
MCP thought they will base their campaign on the Chaponda case in 2019.It might have worked for them during the by election but not next year.By then people will have known the truth. Viva G.Chaponda viva DPP
Everybody expected this shield from the beginning mulungu simunthu
President Prof. APM decided not shield his senior cabinet minister/Vice President for the south even though he knew Chaponda had no case to answer.He let the courts who are independent to do their work. If ACB is failing to have facts that’s not DPP’s problem. God bless Mutharika and grant him good health as he is continuing ruling this country.
Goodal Gondwe will corner himself. If I may ask this: was George Chaponda ever a Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2004? Was it not Davis Katsonga? Please check on cabinet lists of 2004-2009 if Chaponda was Minister for Foreign affairs.
Koma Godall Gondwe wawapsetsaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa mtimaaaaaaaaaaaa
Apawo ndi mizu ya kachere , Mbava zokha zokha
George Chaponda will soon get the justice he deserves. Thanks to our democracy.
At the end of the day Goodal hasn’t even told the court what ailment Chaponda allegedly had. Perhaps Chaponda will have to prove it himself for the Court to believe this explanation.
Inconsistencies on whether the permit was for him to hold finds in a personal capacity as well as in his ministerial capacity suggest to dent Goodals credibility as a witness on this point.
At the end of the day, I am not convinced that such a permit can be so open ended as to simply allow for a “reasonable” amount other than one exact in numerals.
Its only in Malawi where when you speak what you know as a witness, people say a sorts of thing like “credibility gone” .
Eeeeeeeh!!!!!! koma a malawife mumatiwonelera bwanji? mumatidoda left and right! kuyikirana kumbuyo kumeneko? Ndiye za BLUE NIGHT zili ndi ndani?
Kodi pamene pasakumveka ndi pati kuti ndalama zina zinali za blue night (kwachas) ndipo kuti zina zinali zake kale ndipo he only needed forex permit
Every time I see Babylon ..my damn blood run cold and every time I see all the wicked men my blood move move……. when I see… I say its a curse.. For the past 52 years plus things get from bad to worst… I am Just singing along & its on a repeat.
what a shame.
The God knows the truth about this… I am not sure what the future hold for my country..
The truth lies in the universe. The law requires the minister issuing the (forex) permit, to lodge same with the Reserve Bank for record purposes. Does Reserve Bank have a copy in their files; if not, then that’s the missing piece. Komanso ma prosecutor ku Malawi seem to be shallow to the core let down by investigators. These cases require very technical investigators and prosecutors especially when you’re dealing with one of the well trained lawyers (Chaponda).
True.The law requires the minister to lodge same with the Reserve Bank for record purposes.
Is not a crime to have money in this country.All Chaponda needed was to get a permit of which the minister confirmed.Chaponda was not getting the money from malawian banks and that’s why reserve bank did not issue his permit.
Times Group employees were overzealous.Misled a lot of Malawians.
Kodi mmesa ankati ndalamazo ndiza blue night? Lero zikusinthanso? Judge shd take note of this.
Greedy people just wanted to Chaponda to suffer without looking at facts
No matter how long it takes the truth prevails. Chaponda’s testimony
Chaponda wapondaponda aswiswili onse
Goodall is a mature character and he has testified deal with it
From Goodall’s earlier remarks you could tell that he does not get along with Chaponda. Irregardless of that, he has testified how he knows the issue which shows maturity on his part.
Goodall has spoken the truth for he knows that the truth shall set you free.
Goodall needs to be reminded that lying under oath is a GRAVE CRIME. Anyamata m’ma office amasunga ma file ma tsiku ano including electronically (forget kuotcha ma paper files). One Prof Majuru in Zimbabwe is being investigated for awarding a FAKE PhD to Gucci Grace. Dziko ndi zinthu limatha kutsintha when one least expect. We can’t claim we don’t have examples!!!
Chaponda ndi biggie! zaoneka zokha
Asked by lead defence lawyer Tamando Chokhotho whether the permit authorised Chaponda to keep foreign currency within the country, Gondwe said it was both within and outside.
Vote for them 2019. Munya a Malawi sizinawoneke. Chase these crazy bullies outaof capital hill.
Mbava zokha zokha zapezana apa. we knew that thieves will defend fellow thief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dzitsilu dzonsezi. Agalu, mbava, mathongo awo. mxiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. I wished they die so soon makamaka Goodall Gondwe
While a country like South Africa, the largest economy in this sub-region is busy ridding its government machinery of corrupt ministers including president Zuma himself; a mediocre, miserable poor country Malawi has a ruling party with ministers not only conniving and backstopping broad day-light thievery and corruption.; BUT CONMEN disguised as ministers go even further to legitimize theft and fraudulent activities by giving blatant lies and false testimonies (UNDER OATH) in courts of law and parliament.
PATHETIC country indeed, no wonder achinyamata are flocking to RSA only to be blutalised ndi XENOPHOBIA and come back still poor!
I quote” no wonder achinyamata are flocking to RSA only to be blutalised ndi XENOPHOBIA and come back still poor!” This is a good observation Chilungamo
Mbola, poor investigations full of hate and jealousy. Lack of objectivity in the whole investigations process. Chaponda has no case to answer. He can go and sue Times Group and other overzealous citizens.
We all forgot that we are dealing with a lawyer from Yale University. The best law university in the world.
But this one is a crook from Yale
Vuto ndi lakuti mlanduwu tonse a Malawi tinagamura kale, forgetting that he was only a suspect
DPP knows this will affects their votes in 2019 koma alolerabe to speak in favor.What if they are right and we were all wrong?
Hate it or love it Chaponda is winning bigly
This not surprising at all.Facts in court matters.ACB had not gotten enough to arrest this man and tinkawasekera.Chaponda suffered public humiliation and its only fair that he gets compensation because it is clear he is winning.
Mmalawi opusa iwe, osekelera mbava
Whoever paid people like Chidanti Malunga, George Kasakula, Madalitso Mussa, Brian Banda, Kamlepo Kalua and Kajoloweka anabetsa ndalama zake
Another shallow minded Nachanza.Shame
A malawi ambiri we support mbava this is why DPP AMAIVOTERABE. it’s shameful kusekelera tchimo
Tinanena ife kuti nkhaniyi ilibe nsuzi lero si izi? Ena kumaotcha ma office ati kuti tidziti Chaponda akuotcha evidence.Mu office ya Chaponda munali chani chongokanika kutengacho.
Kodi ndekuti alhomwe mumachita kupita kusukulu yophinzira kuba?
If we continue having this attitude and approach on issues malawi will never go anywhere.You could hear ‘hate’ against Chaponda in people’s voice in this issue.Ena mpakana kupita ku mzuzu ku ma court awoawo hehehehe
Iwenso ndi chitsirunso bwanji, ngati anakukwerapo chapondayo izo nzako
Case closed!
Koma mulungu si Kamlepo Kaluadi ndithu. I remember how ena atchukirapo pa nkhani ameneyi .Achina Chishimba.hahahaha
DPP ndiyimeneyi munthu ukamafa umayamba kugotha khutu the hole team of DPP backing chaponda that’s what God does when he want to change things he confused those on power .
Pano danzi la Chidanti Malunga liri ngweee! Anayitengera pankolokolo nkhaniyi.He thought he would replace chaponda simply because he studied agriculture.And malawi media supported his hate.mxiiiiii
Chaponda is a lawyer from Yale University.There is no way he is going behind bars. ACB acted because they wanted to impress social media but believe me apusa nayo nkhani ija.
People wanted to frame Chaponda simply because he was the closest to Mutharika and they thought he was groomed for presidency.Anthu adyera munangompatsa satana wa kongelesi chonena.
We just wanted Chaponda jailed but there is no concrete evidence against him. Godall has spoken
Amalawi kukopeka ndi nkhani zopanda mutu! lero si izi
Incase you missed it “Gondwe said indeed Chaponda had a licence for the forex’.
Gondwe ‘ s explanation is convincing but I have to ask: does this mean Chaponda has been unwell from 2004 to date? How was he executing his duties up until the time he was fired? Is it just a case of him abusing the license that was initially issued in consideration of the medical problem he had at but (as he is able to work and attend court) a medical problem that has long since been resolved or , as the case maybe, very well managed and nolonger necessitating travel every–to quote Gondwe– “two days”?
Gadson you might as well examine chaponda for us. Lets be practical,ukanakhala iwe unasiya kugwilitsa ntchito? lets be realistic in our comments.
Abale, tiyeni tithandizane kugwetsa boma….nkhani ija mwayiwona kumene yapita? Anthuwa amadziwana.
Hahahahah not kugwetsa boma but kuthetsa katangale rather
Katangale ali ku kongelesi wa nyoo. Chakwera amakanika kukamba za Khato
A pack of wild dogs ready to maul the economy of Malawi.
Hate and envy will not yield anything. Goodall has spoken and allover sudden he has upset people.Kodi umboni amakakamizana? Inu ngati muli umboni osabwera nawo bwanji?