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.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
Koma,mpaka wima kumpulisako mtima bwanji kuyipa mtima ngati mpholopolo inu=Paja mlembi wa kumeneku adamuka osadwala ali ku Rhodesia.
..
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… Read more »
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… Read more »