Times feel vindicated after Admarc injunction is discharged on Malawi-Zambia maizegate

Malawi’s leading news organisation, Times Group feel “vindicated” after the  High Court in Blantyre Monday discharged an injunction which Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation(Admarc) obtained to stop news compnay from publishing stories about  the controversial maize deal between State grain trader Admarc and Zambian private company, Kaloswe Commuter and Courier Ltd.

ADMARC  CEO  Foster Mulumbe obtained a court injunction restraining The Daily Times,  the flagship newspaper which published the leaked document, from further reporting on the maize saga.

In reacting to the discharge of the injunction,  an editorial comment in the Daily Times on Tuesday  said the paper said they were shocked with the ggaing orders in the first place  “at the realisation that some people can twist the system in a desperate attempt to veil their suspicious acts.”

But Times said it remained “confident and calm” knowing that they were and still are standing on the solid ground of truth.

“Perhaps a reminder is needed here. Being the oldest media house on the land and having existed for 122 years—and that is outliving governments, systems and so many things—we cannot be so careless as to one day just wake up and start churning out lies about some  suspicious maize deal.

“ As a media house, before publishing our materials they go through a strict and rigorous scrutiny. You can trust on us because we are built on the firm foundation of truth,” reads the editorial comment.

The paper said it is not seeking self glory or fame but is ona mission aimed at bringing to light all clandestine dealings that have proven costly to the poor Malawian.

“ What was and has always been on our mind is the poor Malawians out there who are failing to buy maize
which has been pegged way beyond them. And what is more stomach-churning is the fact that this same maize which poor Malawians was obtained with a loan part of which ended up in some greedy people’s pockets—and if that is not enough, poor Malawians are being forced to service that loan.

“So, we find it very welcome that sanity has prevailed and the injunction has been withdrawn. As a media house, we will not relent to pursue this matter for the sake of Malawians until the last grain of truth falls to the ground. We are prepared to go to the end of the world and back in order to bring light to the darkness that those involved thought would forever prevail over this maize scam,” the paper said.

The editorial comment echoed what the paper’s editor-in-chief George Kasakula has been saying on ‘Hot current’ program on Times TV to pledge unwavering allegiance to the truth and protection of the suffering masses out there.

“Malawi has suffered a lot by some systemic corruption that has only succeeded in creating a rich clique while leaving the majority in abject poverty. We will not stand aside and see this continue,” pledged Times.

The maize deal that has raised fears that government officials, including a Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Minister Gorge Chaponda and Admarc chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe , may have indulged in corruption.