Goodall in maize procurement, Chaponda not amused: Malawi corruption getting worse indeed
There is a recurrence of misconduct like cashgate in the government which calls for no selective justice in investigating abuses as Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe is getting involved in direct procurement.
Nyasa Times has established that Gondwe is directly responsible for maize procurement which is signed at Treasury.
Gondwe is the country’s purse keeper for being Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
However, the procurement of maize by Treasury has not amused Agriculture Minister George Chaponda, wondering why Treasury is procuring the grain and not the responsible ministry.
Gondwe has procured maize directly from outside Malawi by signing contracts on behald of Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (Admarc) to get 300,000 metric tonnes..
“Finance Minister is procuring maize unilaterally and this is against the set rules,” a source in the ministry of agriculture said.
“Ordinarily such procurement should be done by Admarc and treasury should provide guarantees,” the source added.
Treasury spokesperson Nations Msowoya was coy to comment and referred the reporter to the Finance Minister who when contacted said he was “too busy” to grant an interview.
This development comes after newspaper reports indicated that government is processing a U$105 million loan (about K75 billion in current exchange rate) through American financial giant JP Morgan Chase for Admarc to import 300,000 metric tonnes of maize.
This loan has a 2 percent repayment rate and will run for 14 years which include a grace period of four years.
The tonnage from this loan is part of the 490,000 metric tonnes which will be made available to Admarc over a period of five months.
Malawi News reported last Saturday that JP Morgan Chase line of credit is one of several which the government is undertaking for the purpose of maize procurement in its response to the dire food situation in the country.
The government has also established a line of credit with the PTA Bank to finance the importation by Admarc of 100,000 metric tonnes of maize from Zambia.
It has also provided two bank guarantees to CDH Investment Bank for the procurement of an estimated 90,000 metric tonnes of maize on the local market.
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Really/ There are idiots in this country who believe Gondwe can buy and pay for maize without the presidents say so? If there is a Minister that can be trusted to do the right thing it’s Gondwe. You tried about fertilizer, you investigated nothing corrupt was found, now you was to use maize. The good thing with honest people is, they are not afraid to do things even when it appears they are doing something wrong, so long as they believe they are doing the right thing. In our African culture, we use “Bodza” even to mean someone who is… Read more »
Some of the criticisms here are foolish, childish and purely of tribalistic leanings. Criticise Peter also in the same way then. Gondwe is right. The need for maize has been identified and quantified. So it is only proper that Gondwe, not chaponda, pays direct to the supplier and hands over the maize to Agric or Admarc to administer. Gondwe is not going to administer the maize distribution but chaponda will. Gondwe had cut the unnecessary red tape of moving huge amounts of money from one ministry to another to buy something when it could be bought direct by the finance… Read more »
Late Mtafu didn’t miss words by calling Agaru inu. Anthu opanda pa bwino awa. What’s wrong with Gondwe in procuribg maize for people of Malawi? Anthu opanda pabeino, osayamika “Agaru”.
GOODALL is aware that CHAPONDA can’t be trusted with this becoz he will steal all the money without buying maize. Even the president knows that CHAPONDA is already involved in other corruption scandals but is just being shielded for now. Can’t u see that the president is just quiet!! that should tell u a story fox….bravo GOODALL!!!!
O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..O You people are just . . . . . . creating order where there is no order and a storm out of a cup; and . . . mistaking an anthill for a mountain and a lizard for a crocodile. Truth is, this issue of procuring maize is not something which happens every year thus assigned to some particular ministry, no! Its a once-off thing and therefore nothing wrong with Treasury, handling it. ……………………………………………………………………. And, who doesnt know that Ministry of Agriculture is Chaponda, loosely? . . . Now, can anyone swear upon his/her dignity, that Chaponda would more… Read more »
Shame. A chaponda alibe manyazi. He is used to getting commissions. Akufuna za kampeni. Actually goodal is right, the world bank is funding Ministry of finance to buy maize. Cry baby Mr Cahponda.
Komanso anyasatimes, improve on spellings. Make use of spell check. Mwaonjeza kwambiri
K75billion for maize? that’s ridiculous. i now see why this country will never develop. If we can invest that sort of amount in advanced farming systems not only can we feed ourselves but also the neighbouring countries and the generations to come.
Chaponda Vs Gondwe. Lets wait and see. Zayambiaka. Peter for the first time has admitted that his officials are stealing 40%. Can’t you the connection here. Watch out Gondwe.
Uyo ndiye mdala Goodfall Gondwe!
Two years ago we saw politicians criss crossing the country reassuring people and telling them the manfestos. They even managed to reach unreachable place and pretended to feel sorry for people . This time they sympathised with people and wondered how they managed or connected them selves to the rest of the Country. They vowed and pledged to do something. They got the vote now they are busy enriching themselves and their immediate families and friends. 52 years own the majority of our kids are learning under trees. Those who are lucky enough are in pathetic structures which are called… Read more »
This clearly shows that Goodall dont trust Chaponda and the Team in the Agriculture ministry…. otherwise aba zonse