Malawi MPs to investigate maize deal with Zambia: ‘Minister Chaponda should explain’
Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development suspect that media reports on the rot in the transactions of maize purchase from Zambia has characteristics of ‘Cashgate’ corruption scandal and have demanded an investigations into the procurement process.
Nyasa Times and Daily Times have reported in the recent days about the rot over the procurement of imported maize from Zambia.
And the members of parliament under the agriculture committee want an inquiry on the contractual issues involving the state-grain marketer ADMARC and Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF), a government agency.
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 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.
Malawi government obtained a loan of K26 billion from the Eastern and Southern African Development Bank (PTA Bank) to purchase 100, 000 metric tonnes of maize from government of Zambia through ZCF. Consequently, the maize price was hiked from around K5000 to K12 500 per 50 kg bag to enable Admarc repay the loan.
Chairman of the Commiteee on Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development of Malawi Parliament, Joseph Chidanti –Malunga said they will institute an inquiry into the maize purchase transactions.
“The inquiry would establish what exactly went wrong, why are there delays in the purchases and it is possible they are saying they bought this much when they didn’t but the said quantity,” said Malunga.
Malunga said they will quiz Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda on the maize deal and use of a private company as a broker in Zambia.
“We are interested to question the Minister of Agriculture. We need to know why government used a private company and yet they told the nation that they were dealing with Zambia government,” said Malunga.
He said Malawians should know the real truth about the maize transactions.
Chaponda could not immediately comment .
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation ( CHRR) also feels there is something fishy in the transactions.
It says the move by government is” a huge betrayal” to the citizens, especially considering that the price of K12 500 for 50 kg bag of maize is way too high for the ordinary Malawians.
CHRR, therefore, calls upon government to consider adjusting downwards the maize price to meet the affordability for most Malawians.
It also support calls to institute investigations into reports of corruption in the purchase of maize from Zambia.
But consumer and rights activist John Kapito want an independent agency to carry out the probe to clarify matters such as a third party private firm brokering the deal, at what cost, quanity purchased and brought into the country.
He said the inqury should have a time frame to have the matter to its logical conclusion so that Malawians should know the truth regarding the maize purchase.
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Don’t bother investigating aimlessly. No one can hide that many millions of dollars in Zambia. Just ask the BOZ to confirm who suddenly got rich. Trust me their money laundering units placed in all Banks in the country must already be on the case. You must also check the authenticity of the contracts so signed. This Zambian company being mentioned must just be a vehicle if it exists at all check with PACRA in Zambia who the real Directors are and when it was formed and who the bank signatories are. Then after you’ve done and confirmed this that’s when you can say there’s smoke and the fire should be seen anytime thereafter.
caponda could not comment immediately; wapita kaye kosamba kophikidwa ku TETE.KKKK KODI bwanji timangozava kuti tilkucita investigate. kodi a malawife munatiuze kuti mukukomgola ma billion kuti mugule cimanga ndipo tikozeke muzizatigulitsa pa 12 nna hafu? ndipo kuti zili mmanja mwati mwa private caani? ko ya ku blazilu inath bwa?koma zoona kwatalikila ku blazil tikaode cimanga cakumeneku? mimba zanu ndithu
NDIFFUSE NAWO PALI NKHANI YOTI IDZAFIKE KUTI TATSEKA MABUKU AKE MATHERO AKE NDI AWA????????????? OSAZIFUSA BWANJI ANTHU MMATI MUKUONA MMAPEPALA AZATHU OPHUZILANU, KAPENA AMATI MUZINGONAMA KWAGONEKA ANTHU OSAPHUZILA OSAUKAFE? NDE KUTIONELELATU
MLUNGU WA MAWA TIONELELA GAMBIA ANTHU ADYERA KOMASO OPANDA MA AJENDA. SAKUZIWA KUTI AKACOKA UFUMU AZIKATANI KUMUZI.IDIO.
KKKKKKKKKKKKK TIMVA
Koma,mpaka wima kumpulisako mtima bwanji kuyipa mtima ngati mpholopolo inu=Paja mlembi wa kumeneku adamuka osadwala ali ku Rhodesia.
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If you want to get more information about this deal talk to Dr chishimba in zambia lusaka or check http://www.lusakatimes.com on 5th December 2016 you can get what ever you wanted about this dirty money
I was in Zambia last year. One minister was om hold for investgation corruption. In Malawi They can not do this. Normally anyone under investgation should not workshop untill full investgation is over. Problem with rotten country with rotten government are not serious to see Malawis corruption despite donors request and punishment of budget support. They dont care. They are milking the little they can get tax money loans any money which comes into their way. Why Chaponda is put now in charge of agriculture? Because that is where money is coming. He is master mind of stealing for Muntharika that is Why he can never be removed. He is royalty NO. 1
Vingalu zipita ju heil. Not ashamed. The worst government Malawi had
Its all about CHAPONDA in Brazil, and in Zambia, wherever there is a buying of items, Dr Chaponda is inside there planing it all, and Peter has nothing to do about that this man must be a very strong man, stronger than Mr President himself, mwina akakhala Chilima akanamuchotsa ntchito mkulu ameneyu, koma Peter ayiiii, tiye nazoniiii anyamata kummwelako
Its all about CHAPONDA in Brazil, and in Zambia, wherever there a buying of items, Dr Chaponda is inside there planing it all, and Peter has nothing to do about that this man must be a very strong man, stronger than Mr President himself, mwina akakhala Chilima akanamuchotsa ntchito mkulu ameneyu, koma Peter ayiiii, tiye nazoniiii anyamata kummwelako
The same story from a Zambian perspective:
https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/12/05/usd-34-5million-maize-scandal-involving-pf-government/
Boma la DPP latizunza kokwanira, nkhani zikhale zakuba nthawi zones !!!!! all the time Chaponda, Chaponda and chaponda……becoming very famous for stealing poor Malawians money……zamanyazi to lomwes.
Copied: THE ENTIRE MANAGEMENT OF ADMARC AND ZCF MUST RESIGN TO PAVE WAY FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Maize Gate Evidence Part 2
The CEOs and management teams of ADMARC and ZCF in Malawi and Zambia respectively must resign to pave way for criminal investigations into the scandalous exportation of 100, 000 metric tonnes of maize from Zambia to Malawi.
We maintain that the transaction was not a government to government deal. If it were, there was no way the Zambian Government was going to sale the maize to Malawi at such a high price. The people of Malawi have a food deficit and there is no way Zambia can take advantage of the situation to extort money from our good neighbour when there is a crisis. Zambia and Malawi share a common heritage and history of British colonialism. This bond is unbreakable. We owe a duty to each other as the two countries.
Crooked public officers like Foster Malumbe must be arraigned before the courts of law in Malawi for creating conditions that facilitate plunder of public resources even when there is a national food crisis. Malumbe lied that the contract with Kaloswe was terminated in June, 2016. Facts to support our position are as follows:
1. Pursuant to the agreement between Kaloswe and ADMARC, Kaloswe wrote the letter of instruction to ADMARC for the purposes of wiring US$35.5 million into the account of ZCF. This letter addressed to the CEO of ADMARC is dated 22 June, 2016.
2. On 26 July 2016 at 12:04:13 hours, PTA Bank wired the funds on behalf of ADMARC.
3. On 6 September 2016, the ZCF Director of Finance wrote to Kaloswe that a down payment of US$350, 000 which they had requested for logistics was going to be made after the export papers were finalised. This amount was to be paid from the US$34.5 million which came from Malawi.
4. On the same date 6 September 2016, Mr Malumbe wrote an email to Kaloswe confirming that all logistical costs on the Zambian side would be met by Kaloswe.
5. On 7 October 2016, Mr Malumbe wrote another email to Kaloswe in which he confirmed that ADMARC refused to deal with a ZCF official who travelled to Malawi in the first week of October because ADMARC did not have any direct legal relationship with ZCF.
It is therefore absolute nonsense and absurd for Mr. Mulumbe to continue misleading the government and people of Malawi over this very sensitive litigable and criminally indictable matter.
We are further astounded that as ADMARC is looking for a cover up, the same is being done by ZCF and other corrupt senior officials in the Zambian Government who connived with ADMARC to circumvent Kaloswe to create an opportunity for looting.
We have learned with great shock that the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Zambia reportedly issued a statement in which he categorically stated that the Government of Zambia is exporting the 100, 000 MT of maize to Malawi through a Malawian company called Transglobe Limited. We need to investigate this company so that it can explain how it is being used by looters to siphon public resources.
There is total confusion because ZCF is also claiming to have a contract with ADMARC, but central government is denying this. According to the permanent secretary the export permit was granted due to a contract between ZCF and Transglobe. This new player in the whole deal is clearly the one ADMARC, ZCF and other senior officials are using to power personal pockets.
If Malumbe has morality and if at all the contract with Kaloswe were terminated in June as he has falsely claimed why didn’t he renegotiate the deal downwards in June since it was going to be a government to government transaction? The private sector sell at higher prices due to the profit motive and tax obligations that they ought to meet.
The Zambian Government cannot sell the maize to the needy people of Malawi at such an unreasonably high price.
Malumbe must be prosecuted and we urge His Excellency Prof. Peter Mutharika the President of Malawi to dissolve the entire management of ADMARC and let them explain why they have caused the government to spend a huge amount of money at a time that Malawi is seeking economic stability and growth.
We stand to corporate with investigative wings in Malawi and Zambia to deal with the culprits.
Dr. Saviour Chishimba
UPP PRESIDENT
Chaponda kkkkk…. Ndi akamuna Bambo… James Bond of Malawi… But honestly speaking, lets have a better side of story, investigate and find out exactly what is behind this maize deal. Zambia is not far unlike Brazil. And Chaponda is just right hear easy to reach.,.
AMALAWI ANZANGA GEORGE CHAPONDA SAZATHEKA!!!!!
AKAMAKHALA AMANGOGANIZA
ZAKUBA BASI.
KUIPA NGATI SATANA!
MUNTHU OKONDA ZA MAKHWALA A ZITSAMBA NGATI UYU INE
SINDINAMUONENSO.
wat purpose will t serve ….investigating now??…….shld i asssume that the parliament committe on agriculture was blank of the deal?……….mmmmmm…..
Yakwana nthawi muyaluke anthu okuba Inu. Dzanja lalemba khoma basi .And you are under curse for stealing poor people money
Nonses! Where were you when the ADMARC CEO was signing this contract? A critical issue like this should have been vetted by you the Parliamentary committee on Agriculture and the matter should have been brought to Parliament for approval. Now you come with guns blazing when damage has already been done as you always do with other issues? Please wake up and improve or develop policies to cover all or any foreseeable loopholes.
Very very foolish thinking. Admarc is part of the executive and not legislature so why should a parliamentary committee on agriculture approve the sale. Let an audit take place and if wrong doing is established then the public accounts committee must then take action on the officers involved. Financial matters are an exclusive responsibility of the Public Accounts Committee not this stupid fodder committee. Surprisingly you are not questioning the role played by Goodall Gondwe and Mangani in Treasury. Admarc can’t get a loan without Treasury and it is only logical that Treasury should know who Malawi is paying; govt of Zambia or a private company.
We need information