Mutharika wants Chaponda back as leader of House: DPP Divided
President Peter Mutharika wants the embattled Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, George Chaponda to be reinstated as Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly despite recommendations by commission of inquiry on Zambia maize procurement saga that he should be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Chaponda who was this week reinstated as minister by the Supreme Court of Appeal following a suspension by the High Court in Mzuzu over his involvement in the trending maize-gate saga, has been questioned about his role in the whole maize procurement process.
Mutharika’s instituted commission of inquiry led by retired Chief Justice Anastazia Msosa while confirming Nyasa Times’ earlier reports that money did not exchange hands in the maize deal, has found Chaponda and a privately owned company Transglobe of suspicious corrupt practices on the procurement of the maize from Zambia.
However, Mutharika despite promising to take action on the commission’s findings, he is backing his right-hand man and potential successor to be reinstated as Leader of Government in Parliament, arguing Chaponda is cleared of any wrong doing since the findings revealed that no money exchanged hands.
Mutharika’s decision follows a two-and-half hours meeting he had with some of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) top officials at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Saturday afternoon.
Nyasa Times can reveal that Mutharika met with Goodall Gondwe who is DPP’s vice-president for north, Dr Hetherwick Ntaba vice-president for central, Chaponda who is DPP’s vice-president for south, Bright Msaka, party secretary general, Grizeder Jeffrey as well as administrative secretary, Francis Mphepo among others.
Mutharika’s spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani feigned ignorance of the meeting when contacted, saying “I don’t know anything about that meeting. Since its a party meeting, I can’t comment on that.”
Jeffrey said was attending funeral when contacted, but our sources confirmed that during the caucus that started at 2pm and ended at around 4:30pm, Mutharika vowed to push for Chaponda’s reinstatement despite the issue creating divisions in the party with some of those who were in the meeting opposing it.
“According to the President, honorable Chaponda is cleared by the inquiry because the report doesn’t show anywhere that money exchanged hands.
“We could not fight it but this will further divide the party considering the tension currently the maize issue has generated in the country,” explained our source who attended the meeting.
Mutharika, according to our source, is expected to write the Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya on Monday morning to reinstate Chaponda as Leader of House.
Nyasa Times can confirm that some of the government’s Parliamentarians have since started strategizing on fighting Mutharika’s decision.
“As I am talking to you some MPs have are meeting and have vowed to boycott Parliamentary meetings if the Speaker effects the decision. I just don’t know how the party will react to that but this bad for its image.”
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kondwani Nankhumwa has been acting as Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly until Chaponda was cleared on the maize saga.
Parliament is meeting for a mid-year budget review meeting.
Mutharika appointed Msosa to chair the commission of inquiry with Mike Chinoko, the Solicitor General Janet Banda and public auditor Isaac Kayira as part of her team.
The inquiry’s findings are based on the testimony of witnesses interviewed by the Commission both in Malawi and Zambia; the observations of the Commission as it interviewed the witnesses; and on the analysis of the documentation made available to the Commission.
Aside recommending Chaponda and Transglobe’s probing, the commission noted that procedures were flouted, ministry of Justice officials were completely left out whilst Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) officials were reckless in the whole maize procurement process.
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I don’t know why Malawians fail to understand that if at all Chaponda did any wrong doing, it was not him personally but the party must be involved.Do you need a proof on this?
Look here pologoza! Malawians do not vote on principal, otherwise Muluzi would not rule for two terms. And Bingu would not win on UDF ticket in 2004. Malawians vote a person into power just because of certain affliations to him not what you are talking about. Even if the votes on parliamentary level are done tomorrow Chaponda will carry the day on DPP ticket. Be schooled that this maize scandal will effect nothing negative on the DPP and Chaponda. Do you think this scandal even if proved true can make DPP supporters vote for Chakwera? Even if these scandals are talked on daily basis up to April 2019 the DPP supporters will note defect to Chakwera because Chakwera himself has done nothing to prove that he can handle things which Malawians lack. My friend Pologoza, I can challenge you that despite all these silly comments on the issue and others to come, the DPP has no competator in 2019 especially on presidential level. Statistics has already shown that the DPP is penetrating the centre and gradually winning support while Chakwera cannot point any place in the south where his support can be traced. This is why he is looking for alliances because he knows he cannot do it alone. But alliance with PP will yield nothing because this will make PP supporters in the south to just step into DPP. The DPP is the only party which has strength to grab the power in 2019. Forget about your Chakwera.
I am dismayed by Dausi who was making a lot of noise on TVM that the commission of inquiry has found nothing wrong in the maizegate. Wh does Dausi want to fool???? My advice is you can fool some people sometime but you can not fool all the people all the time. Tionana in 2019.
WHY MR PRESIDENT TRUST A PERSON WHO FAILED MALAWIAN
cant”t we say Him is also failed? Can”t we say He wants to let DPP not have even a single vote WHY my loving PRESIDENT Just wishing the best to the people what destroy the GOOD image of MUNTHARIKA”S family as well as DPP AS whole. Can’t we say Chaponda is only a person that feat to be minister ..I had been listening to the views of different people about DPP at first i thought is jerous but now i understand people wishing MR President the best .
if i were YOU i wanna spent my tym listen to people out there just fire all evil MINISTER
Peter, Don’t Worry. In the Bible, leaders of your behaviour were dealt with by God. Just wait for your turn SOON. Much has been said to advise you but you are deaf. You and your team (EVERYONE shielding this corrupt ie spokes persons, lawyers, courts etc) is in people’s prayers to be handled by GOD’s Mighty HAND as He does all time. Your Law education was a waste of time. Don’t play with people’s lives in Jesus name AMEN!!!!!
Malawians, what do you make out of the following points.
• Chaponda hindered ATI (Information bill) to be tabled
• Times Media told to stop querying maize scandal
• Msaka warned Civil servants never to release any government information
• Chaponda said Commission of inquiry was a waste of time and resources
• Mutharika said Commission of inquiry was a waste of time and resources (mmmm, birds of same feathers)
• Dausi wondered “Kodi a Chaponda ali pa Tchuti? Ayi poyankha funso lanulo bla bla bla …………….”
• Kalirani wondered after Mutharika received a report from Msosa; “Kupumitsa a Chaponda pa u Minister pa zifukwa ziti?” Mutarika information masters being ignorant of events. True?
• Mutharika, Msaka, Gondwe etc agree to reinstate Chaponda; yet Msosa report has not been read. Conclusion based on what?
• Suprime Court backed Kaphale. How come that in the past people were forced to pave way for similar investigations to take place. Kodi such people eg Electoral Commission, MERA etc muwapanga compensate bwanji?
• If people undertake activities that lead to fraud and this is not seen as a crime; why is Kabwira and friends being victimized on suspicion? Analanda Boma?
• Why is conspiracy to murder a crime? Why don’t the culprits be allowed to commit murder first before they are tried in courts?
If we conclude that laws, courts, prisons etc are for the poor /less privileged people; is it wrong? Are our courts for justice or for money? (Money gives one a chance to appeal cases for a better judgment at a higher court). Is it possible to confiscate Licenses of these corrupt lawyers? Is it possible to punish ALL, who are shielding this behaviour?
Mphepo, well outlined. If the Prez himself does not take heed to that, then mmm he has a problem. Nzeru zayekha anaviika nsima mmadzi. Vubwa.
Mr Mphepo, you are a tue son of Malawi.Am a true-Dpp member from Thyolo East where the president comes from,but people are not happy with hw the big kahuna is handling this maizegate.If the president fail to fire Dr chaponda,this coming election will be Dpp’s last election
“The president should listen to people” yes.. he listens thats why he instituted commosdion
of inquiry and results have shown that Chaponda did not pocket even a penny…. You mean APM should listen to pipo who always cook negative stories? No way
this is a very good advice. Thanks for taking your time putting together all these facts. You are truly a patriotic Malawian.
Mr Kent, the work of the president will constitutionally be judged in 2019 during the elections. You can not through your biased writings convince us that APM has failed Malawians. Amayi in all the 24 months was telling us that the DPP have failed Malawians and naturally in a multiparty state some people backed her. But the 2014 elections proved that Malawians were not tired of the DPP as you speculate now. Be it known to you that the Chaponda issue will no way weaken the DPP if this is what you think. If Chaponda falls, which party do you think will take the constituency? Ha ha ha ha!
A narrow view by Santana. Its not about who takes the constituency boy. Its about having people with integrity to lead us. As far as I am concern APM is clueless and a thief. Chaponda may only have clue in how to swindle poor Malawians. But in all this the true God keeps his eyes open.
Stupid leaders are ruling Mw ,& Mwians are cetee ngati akumetedwa.
That’s about Yale University and its SKULL and BONES .That’s it Malawi.We gona feel it.U don’t know and u will never know..By the way,the investigation was not to find whether money exchanged hands or not. It was to find out what actually happenied in the maise deal.We have heard it all and in conclusion, it is clear that all what has been happening,the target was that money to the very end but the whole deal has flopped.The whistle blower came in time.ZINAPITA ZIMENEZO ZAPULUMUKILA MKAMWA mwa mbuzi.I think a big hand to this Zambia wistle blower.A MAlawi ndi atulo sadaidziwa komabe ndalamazo zili kuti chifukwa simukutipatsa umboni .Tonse a Malawi ndife mbava, kongoti ambiri zoti tibezo ndiye zimatisowa.Ena ku floods kuja amabelanso azanu.Nanga mukuti ndalama zili kuti?
Zoona amenewo nde mau. Zapulumukila mkamwa mwa mbuzi.
ur respect mr Mphepo,mumatiimilira!
It is only in Malawi where thieves are worshipped
A Mphepo ,palibe chimene mwanepo apa , choipa!
If Chaponda gets reinstated as the leader of government business in the house then we dont need another proof….that APM is afraid of Chaponda! Actually Chaponda has captured the state and no matter what he does , he will get away with it.
The question to all patriotic Malawians is: how long shall they defraud our country while we stand aside and look? Its time we redeemed ourselves from the mafia….we did it in 1994 why cant we do it now?? Enough is enough amangwetu, kenaka atiba ndikukatigulitsa tonse!!
Koma we Malawians are surely practically dead people
Dear Mr. President,
I take it that between your busy schedules you take time to read for yourself what electronic and print newspapers are discussing about you and your government. I take it, therefore, that once in a while you personally come on Nyasatimes to hear/see what we bonafide Malawians are discussing regarding Hon. George Chaponda and the entire maize scam. Or, if you don’t, at least your press team members make daily briefs on what is coming in the media from we, Malawians, for your information. It is with this notion in mind that I write to suggest to you, Sir, that where things are right now keeping our Hon. Minister away from any public office is a better devil for you personally as Head of State, DPP as a party and Malawi as a nation than to put in public positions against the wishes of Malawi for whom you are, humanly speaking, the sole guardian as per our republican constitution. In case you are not properly informed by your officers and advisors, Malawians are, right now, bitter about this whole matter particularly because it borders on moral turpitude by a man leading the most strategic ministry to, not only the country’s economy, but also the daily livelihood of the majority of our people particularly those who are on the remotest peripheral of our already weak economy. And by saying that he remains on suspension I am not suggesting that he is guilty. No. Hon. Chaponda is, currently, innocent. It is after the investigations have been thoroughly done by a responsible organ of government, in this case ACB, and a credible court of law has given its verdict that he is guilty, that we will indeed consider him guilty.
But, Your Excellency, it only makes common sense that a person holding such a prominent position in government should pave way for investigations since, if he doesn’t, public perception locally and internationally, will work against you personally, DPP as a party in government and Malawi as a nation. As Head of State it is your duty to ensure that people who hold public office are not only respected but also trusted by the public that they shall always work for the best interest of the majority of the people in the country. I personally don’t see how civil servants and the general public can take government policy implementation seriously when among those leading such processes is a cabinet minister who is under investigation. For example, how will Hon. Chaponda lead a heavily divided parliament at the time when so many questions remain unanswered surrounding his behavior in the maize purchase as the Msosa report has clearly brought to light?
Secondly, your party, DPP, won the 2014 Tripartite Elections on the promise that you will pursue a zero-tolerance policy when in power. Are you, by insisting that Hon. Chaponda resumes his position as cabinet minister, not playing in the hands of the ever-increasing members of the public who believe that your party is failing to live up to its election promises? Look at Donald Trump in the US. He is making sure that whatever he promised on is campaign trail is implemented to the letter now that he is at White House. Isn’t this an opportunity for you to demonstrate to Malawians that you are leading a party that is bent on nothing but fulfilling what it promised the voter? Are you not shooting yourself and your party in the foot here by insisting that the Honourable minister continues in his positions even after the Commission of Inquiry that you personally appointed recommends that ACB investigates him of corruption practices?
Lastly, as I am writing this open letter to you, Sir, our country is going through very serious issues that need both local and international support. The economy has reached its lowest ebb in history – judging by the level of destitution that I see around me – particularly unemployment among the youth, job losses in the private sector, skyrocketing prices of commodities on the market and low level of service delivery in all sectors particularly in the health sector. Isn’t this time for us, as a nation, to tell the world, particularly the donor community, that your government is taking the battle against corruption seriously? Last time I checked, the British, the Germans, the Americans, the Japanese, etc had separately made it clear to you and your government that they expect Malawi to deal with corruption decisively. Is maintain a cabinet minister who is undergoing and investigation on such serious matters not shooting ourselves as a nation in the foot? Is it not right that for a short period of time you set him aside so that public trust can be restored as investigations are taking place? My fear is that the public will reject the results of any investigation that ends in his favor even if such results are genuine. This, in my view, may result is serious political and social unrest because, in case you are not being told the truth, public anger against your government is rising by each passing day – following the live Zodiak broadcasts of the Joint Parliamentary Investigations. You see, for a long time people have been complaining in muted voices about corruption in the country but, right now, following these broadcasts, there is an open display of anger in the country including here in the South.
It is my plea, therefore, that, for now, you keep this Great Son of Malawi away from public office and, please, do this for the sake of peace and tranquility in the country. After all, the investigations will not take forever. Remember, the Chewas say: gona n’kuphe salipatali, tsiku limodzi silioza mbewa komanso, nzeru umati zako n’zokuuza pakuti nzeru mzayekha adaviika sima m’madzi.
Best wishes as you ponder on this important matter in these few days, Sir.
Your Son,
Kent Y.G. Mphepo
MONEY DID NOT EXCHANGE HANDS AND MISPROCUREMENT,
I will comment on the above heading as part of the findings from the Commission of Inquiry in relation to Hon. Dr George Chaponda, the fact that money has not been paid from the Letter of Credit does not necessarily mean that money did not exchange hands according to my understanding of procurement and fraud. In normal circumstances, contractors do bribe Procurement Entity officials using cash to win the contract (s), meaning misprocurement happens through flouting procedures and procurement officers gets their share before bid evaluation process not at the end of executing the contract. In this case, maizegate in particular, Dr Chaponda and ADMARK officials got their bribes from ZCF or Transglobe in advance and Transglobe knew that they will recover the money from the LC after delivering the maize to ADMARK by inflating the figures. This is what normally happens when contractors wants to win the contracts regardless of whatever. From the Parliamentary Inquiry, evidence of corrupt practices in the procurement can be deduced, hence Dr Chaponda is implicated, not what the President is made to believe that since money did not exchange hands from the LC means Chaponda is cleared. Until investigations of corrupt practices are completed, Chaponda is implicated and on moral integrity, he could have resigned to pave way for the investigations.