Parliamentary inquiry on maizegate off to Zambia Tuesday

A 10 member parliamentary inquiry on maizegate leaves the country on Tuesday morning, the first time that the Malawi parliament has moved to another country.

Chairperson of the inquiry Joseph Chidanti Malunga confirmed the members of parliament will be flying to Zambia on Tuesday to meet all those involved in the procurement of maize which include Kaloswe, ZCF and officials from the Zambia government.

“We failed to travel on Sunday because we had not yet received clearance from the ministry of Foreign Affairs. But now the trip is on, we are just doing the preparations,” said Malunga. He said officials from the Malawi mission in Zambia are on the ground doing the contacts and communication.

Two committees of Parliament—the Public Accounts Committee and the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development—are conducting an inquiry into the procurement of maize by State grain marketer – Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) – to establish whether there was an element of fraud and corruption in the deal.

Malunga also said the inquiry is expected to meet embattled Agriculture minister George Chaponda when the legislators are back.

“He communicated through the office of Clerk of Parliament that he received communication for him to appear before the inquiry late so when we come back we might create time for him just for a few questions,” said Malunga.

The minister was expected to appear before the inquiry but failed. Parliament public relations officer Leonard Mengezi says Cisanet has funded the trip by the legislators to Zambia.

Chaponda and Admarc CEO Foster Mulumbe are accused of suspicious dealings in the procurement of the Zambia maize. They deny any wrong doing.