Malawi govt lied on Zambia maize deal: Objective evidence reveals scam

Documents on the deal for the purchase of  100, 000 metric tonnes by Malawi’s grain marketor Admarc were signed with a  Zambian private  company called Kaloswe Commuter and Courier Ltd  and not government to government deal as claimed by Admarc.

On Tuesday  December 20 Nyasa Times published a story which said Zambian opposition leader has raised suspicion over transactions between ADMARC and a private firm involving Zambia maize exports to Malawi, alleging there was some racketeering by some top Zambian government officials.

But ADMARC CEO Foster Mulumbe came fighting that they were buying maize from Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF).

“We have a contract with ZCF,” said Mulumbu,

However, documents seen by Nyasa Times shows a contract which Mulumbe signed alongside CEO of Kaloswe, Isaac Kapambwe dated June 17, 2016.

On 31st May 2016, Kaloswe Commuter and Courier Ltd entered into a contract for the purchase of Zambian White Maize (Non-GMO) with the Zambia Co-operative Federation Ltd (ZCF). A Mr. James Emmanuel Chirwa in his capacity as Director General signed, under seal, for ZCF while a Mr. Isaac Kapambwe in his capacity as CEO signed, under seal, for Kaloswe. Under this agreement, ZCF agreed to reserve 100, 000 MT of maize at the selling price of US$215 per MT.

“On 17th June 2016, two agreements were executed. The first being betweenKaloswe and ADMARC Ltd. Under this agreement, ADMARC was going to buy the maize from Kaloswe at US$345 per MT. All transportation of maize to Malawi and other logistical requirements were to be met by Kaloswe. This agreement was signed by a Mr. Foster C. Malumbe for ADMARC and a Mr. Isaac Kapambwe for Kaloswe.

“The second agreement was an addendum in which the parties mutually agreed that since ZCF was the ultimate source of maize it would be prudent to pay the whole amount of US$34.5 million into their (ZCF) account. ZCF would in turn deduct US$21.5 million due to it (ZCF) as duly agreed with Kaloswe on 31st May, 2016. The balance was going to be paid to Kaloswe whose legal duty it was to transport and handle all logistics in the whole transaction,” this is revealed by president of the opposition UPP in Zambia, Saviour Chishimba.

Admarc could have saved huge amount of dollars  had it  purchased the maize directly to ZCF as Kaloswe bought maize from ZCF at $215 per metric tonne before relling it to Adamrc at $345 per metric tonne, the documents shows.

ZCF sold to Kaloswe at US$21.5million, then Kaloswe sold to ADMARC at $34.5million and the difference is US$13million. So

According to Chishimba, June 22, 2016 Kaloswe issued an instruction, in line with the agreement, to ADMARC to process and wire the US$34.5 million into the ZCF account number 0003203000439 at First Capital Bank.

He says that on July 13, 2016, PTA Bank wrote a letter of comfort to ZCF. In this letter referenced PTA/TF/ZCF/20160713,  jointly signed by a Mr. E Ali and Mr. G. Mudange, PTA Bank was confirming with ZCF that the Reserve Bank of Malawi has approached PTA to support the transaction involving the importation of 100, 000 MT of white maize through a programme that the bank extended to the Republic of Malawi. PTA Bank further confirmed, in the same letter, that there was an existing arrangement between the Agricultural Development and Marketing Cooperation (ADMARC) and PTA Bank over maize importation financing.

“On 26th July 2016 at 12:04:13 hours, US$34.5 million was wired into the account of ZCF at First Capital Bank via Standard Chartered Bank (Mauritius) Ltd.

“On 6th September 2016, Mr. Malumbe of ADMARC wrote an email to Kaloswe in which he was categorically re-affirming that all logistical costs on the Zambian size would be met by Kaloswe as per the agreement. The same email was copied to the First Capital Bank.

“On 6th September 2016, ZCF wrote a letter to Kaloswe in which they were confirming that logistical payments are to be made to Kaloswe on need-based. This letter was signed by a Mr. Frank Munthali the ZCF director of finance. The director of finance was replying to the request by Kaloswe to be paid an advance of US$350, 000 for logistics,” the statement says.

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