Mulumbe will not be suspended on ‘maizegate’: ADMARC yet to pay Zambia agency

State-produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe will not be suspended from his duties as government claims to have information and weight of evidence that  he followed procedures with Government of  Zambia and its agencies in the controversial K26 billion procurement deal of maize now christened as ‘Maizegate’.

Admarc CEO Foster Mulumbe: No comment

The  civil society organisations (CSOs)  and two Parliamentary Committees—Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development and Public Accounts— have called for the resignation of Mulumbe and  Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda, saying their continued stay in their positions would “jeopardise the investigations”.

Chaponda has refused to step down, saying he was not involved in the procurement and pushed the blame to Mulumbe and his management team.

“I have said now and again that Iam not involved in the actuak procurement of maize,” said Chaponda.

He said those pushing for his resignational are pursuing a vendetta against him.

Mulumbe has refused to comment, saying doing so would prejudice the matter which is now under investigations.

But documents of communication from his office show that Admarc made formal request to purchase 300, 000 metric tonnes from Zambia following a go ahead given by Capital Hill in Lilongwe.

On May 27, 2016 Mulumbe, wrote Zambia Food Reserve Agency (ZFRA) formally requesting the purchase of 300, 000 metric tonnes by the corporation.

In response, ZFRA told Admarc through communication dated June 11, 2016 that maize stocks of that tonnage was not available up until a reevaluation of stocks after General Elections in September same year.

On June 17, 2016 Admarc entered into a Maize Purchase and Sale contract with Zambia Cooperative Federation Limited (ZCFL) to purchase 100, 000 metric tonnes.

ZCFL is a Zambia government agency under Ministry of Trade. Currently, the company has already supplied 4,000 metric tonnes and is in the process of bringing in the remaining 96,000 metric tonnes in the coming months.

Apparetly,  Admarc markets in the country are currently fully stocked with maize which was bought locally.

Meanwhile, all the 4000 tonnes which delivered ZCF has delivered so far is stocked in warehouse in Lilongwe, according to our findings.

In the absence of 300,000 metric tonnes Admarc continued looking for other suppliers in Zambia. That’s when they got a recommendation from Zambia government to speak to private suppliers.

Private trader Kaloswe reportedly told  Admarc that his company was only one allowed to do export maize outside Zambia borders, a fact  which authorities in the Western neibhours dispute. .

Kaloswe Commuter and Courier Limited was one supplier to whom a formal purchase enquiry was made.

The communication from Kaloswe further said that should Admarc fail to make the said payment module within a given period of time -whose deadline was July 1, 2016- then the Zambian firm would automatically pull the plug down on Admarc.

True to Kaloswe’s premeditated fear Admarc was not interested with the preliminary estimates of the whole deal. As such there was no commitment by Admarc up until the expected period elapsed.

Kaloswe however made a final reminder to Admarc a day before the deadline just in case there had been change of heart.

When July 1, 2016 came and went by, Kaloswe reportedly  rushed to Zambia’s opposition politicians and gave them their picture of the story.

To Kaloswe, Admarc had dumped them for ZCFL in the supply of 100, 000 metric tonnes of maize through dubious ways.  What they did not know was that the ZCFL deal  was just part of the 300,000 metric tonnes being sought after.

Besides Kaloswe and ZCFL, Admarc also made formal purchase enquiries to several suppliers all of who had their own specifications in their respective contracts.

Following the withdraw from Kaloswe deal Admarc is still looking for a supplier to issue the remaining 200,000 metric tonnes.

The Zambian company has since reportedly dragged Admarc to court for breach of contract, having already done so with the Zambia Cooperative Federation over similar charges.

President Peter Mutharika has formed a commission of inquiry to look into the whole issue.

The CSOs have however  asked Mutharika to include members of the civil rights groups and members of parliament in the commission of inquiry.

Leader of the CSOs on the maizegate, Robert Mkwezalamba, executive director of the Malawi Human Rights Consulative Council said the current members of the commission, chaired by former chief justice Anastanzia Msosa can easily be manipulated.

But  presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalilani said the commission of inquiry appointed by Mutharika comprises of Malawians of high integrity.

Admarc reportedly has not paid any peny to ZCF up until they reach 10,000 metric tonnes threshold of delivery. The money will be paid from K26 billion which government borrowed from the PTA Bank for the purchase of the maize.

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Mkwapu
7 years ago

Mullie pa deal yonse ya dpp

Halton
Halton
7 years ago

Achimidzimidzi, please study carefully the Admarc letterhead which states that all correspondences must be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer. This should means having correspondences addressed to the Chief Executive, does not imply that he was the one buying. Your are also looking for tender documents. Does it make sense to you to tender for maize in a country where the ban for the export of maize is in place? The move taken by Government and Admarc to approach Zambian Government to consider lifting the ban for the Malawi tonnage by allowing the suppliers in Zambia to supply to Admarc… Read more »

Mbwiye wapata
Mbwiye wapata
7 years ago

Let me set the record straight….many of you do not know Foster Mulumbe, let me tell you this, Foster is a man of integrity. sapanga ma deal ngati alipo wina pakati panu akufuna kugwetsa DPP thru admarc mukhaula I can assure you probe him left or right you wont find a mistake. he is the only CEO i have known safuna ma kick backs ask amwenye amalira naye kuti fwiiiii. MCP ,PP BUSHIRI and MIA we know what you are up to. Tikumana konko but dont fix Mulumbe to advance your political ambitions. we are also watching you day and… Read more »

Vyanusi
Vyanusi
7 years ago

If I may ask, why did Admarc opt to buy maize in Zambia when NRFA was buying same Zambian maize from both Zambian and Malawian vendors at K250.00/Kg CIF Kanengo – Lilongwe.

At the given price per Kg NRFA was buying the grain at K250,000 per tonne as opposed to K259,785.00 ( 345 US$ x K735.00) which ADMARC is to pay for same one tonne of maize.
Secondly between NRFA and ADMARC who have the mandate to purchase maize for the Malawi Goverment strategic grain reserve? Why did ADMARC asurp the responsibility of NRFA?

chatonda Mvula
chatonda Mvula
7 years ago

what are institutions like ACB doing about Central Medical Stores BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF CORRUPTION BY SOME BOSSES THERE? WHO ARE THEY WAITING FOR TO ACT?

santana
santana
7 years ago

Where is Chaponda fitting in the whole story?

tman
7 years ago

mumati chani,mwanya nkhani palibepotu apa.kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk bravo Foster,work hard keep up

jozah
jozah
7 years ago

how long does it take to plant the maize to harvest?, three months …it means government of Malawi entered into contract family with Zambian farmers to supply them with maize something that could have been done right here in Malawi …we have illovo here and other famers with capacity to deliver within the same period

Mphwache
Mphwache
7 years ago

My take: Follow the trail of paperwork. (1) When was contract signed with Kaloswe? (2) When was agreement signed with ZCF? (3) What was G. Bakuwa doing in Lusaka in November? (4) Where are the Zambian permits allowing the export of 300,000mt to Malawi? (5) If ZCF maize is US$215/tonne, what was the US$315/tonne signed for? By the way transport charges from Lusaka to Lilongwe are US$55/tonne maximum. (6) If the contracts signed indicate payment of 10,000 tonne tranches (ie US$2.15mill) at any one time, why was US$31.5 million) at once? ADMARC knew that if they were to pay directly… Read more »

teimma
7 years ago
Reply to  Mphwache

I think u r deaf…. Where does it say ADMARC paid Kaloswe?

Kevin Francis
Kevin Francis
7 years ago

Buy legal maize from me ex mexico
I represent Mexican producers that I have a allocation
CIF Beira Mozambique

Mario pei
Mario pei
7 years ago
Reply to  Kevin Francis

Eeh eeh zafika mpaka pamenepa.. January in action ma style osiyana siyana,, mwaponya mbedza

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