Zambia Co-op reveals rot in Malawi maizegate: Admarc forgery, lies and corruption element

February 2, 2017 Wanga Gwede- Nyasa Times 51 Comments

Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF), a government agency, has told Members of Parliament (MPs) in Malawi under the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Irrigation and Food Security who are investigating the procurement process of maize from Zambia, that State-produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) lied on contracts.

ames Chirwa, ZCF Director General: Testified

James Chirwa, executive director of ZCF testified before the Malawi parliamentary inquiry members in Lusaka on Wednesday that  they have been following  submission of Admarc boss Foster Mulumbe to the inquiry but noted that he has said lies one too many.

Committee co-chair Kamlepo Kalua is on record to have warned Mulumbe that he was under oath and would be dealt with accordingly if he gave false information to the inquiry.

Chirwa also gave credence to allegations of corruption element and misprocurement when he disclosed that Admarc is the one that proposed the $345 price tag for maize per metric tonne.

Mulumbe told the MPs however that: “The $215 per tonne cost was calculated as delivery from the northeast of Zambia while $345 per tonne was for Lilongwe delivery which Admarc opted for.”

Parliamentary Committee chairperson Joseph Chidanti-Malunga disclosed that ZCF has also disowned a tax invoice for clearing over 1,000 metric tonnes of the grain, saying it did not originate from ZCF and may have been forged.

Malunga said during the hearing with ZFC, they have found “a number of massive discrepancies”.

He said there were “fake documents” which were presented to Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).

“Basically, forged and fake documents were used to pre-clear the 100,000 metric tonnes,” Malunga said.

He also said Malawi High Commission in Lusaka was sidelined in the procurement as officials from the mission said Admarc made its visits without its knowledge.

ZCF also denied claims by Admarc that 45 tonnes of maize said to have been rotten at Chilambula Depot was sent back to ZCF, saying they never received any maize that was rejected.

The maize purchase deal is currently marred with controversy regarding contractual issues involving Admarc which claimed it is buying the staple grain from ZCF but documents show that Admarc is actually using a private Zambian company, Kaloswe Commuter and Courier Limited as a broker of the maize deal.

The MPs will meet Kaloswe on Thursday and also hear from whistle blower Saviour Chishimba, a Zambian opposition leader.

Malawi obtained $40 million loan facility from PTA Bank for Admarc to buy maize.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Follow us in Twitter

51 replies on “Zambia Co-op reveals rot in Malawi maizegate: Admarc forgery, lies and corruption element”

  1. It seems these so called Kamulepos and friends are there just to fatten their berries not for real businesses. They just want to lengthen the period of inquiry to accumulate more allowances. Malawi sidzathekanso.

  2. Kaloswe Courier says they came to know ADMARC through a Grace Mhango. Is this Grace the one who is a president of Grain Traders Association of Malawi?
    Isn’t she the same person who influenced NFRA to fix the maize price at K250.00 ?
    When NFRA flighted a tender for maize purchase in the local Dailies, It was surprising that the purchaser , in this case NFRA, had fixed a CIF K250,000.00/ton. Why?
    I thought NFRA was supposed to invite open tenders where suppliers were supposed to offer prices?
    When traders started deliveries of maize stock to Kanengo Silos why did NFRA pay traders basing on where the Supplier came from when the tender had a fixed price?.
    What buffles me is that suppliers were DDP memders who were all sourcing their maize from Eastern Zambia and smuggled through Mkanda in Mchinji but when payments were being done the southern Region suppliers were given a K260,000.00/ton price. This price was above the given fixed price of K250,000.00.
    There are two similarities in ZCF deal and this NFRA deal. These similarities are (i) Prices in both deals were fixed by the purchaser, (ii) Both ADMARC and NFRA are under Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development.
    Kafukufuku achitikenso ku NFRA

  3. There is no way Malawian officials can go to zambia to discuss business without the knowledge of the ambassador. This ambassador knows something and He has to be investigated and be kicked out
    Whom are you cooking here. Chiwra from zambia is a Tumbuka as well as Kamlepo. What do you expect from these idiots

  4. The purpose of the investigation is to find out whether or not Chaponda was involved in corrupt practices. He can end up clean. However his behaviour and arrogance, a lawyer as he is, leaves a lot to be desired. U Bulldozer wanuyu ukusandutsani chindere chakufikapo

  5. Can ZCF come up very clearly; who reduced the tonnage from 100,000 mt to 50,000mt? No document was tendered by ADMARC as an amendment to the contract. Why was ZCF silent about their dealings with Transglobe? Was Transglobe introduced to ZCF by ADMARC or the Ministry of Agriculture? A committee mukabwelera opanda mayankho amafunso amenewa we will conclude that you went there to enjoy with prostitutes at East point.

  6. This is ridiculous these people in the parliamentary enquiry are also involved in cash gate through bogus allowances in the name of conducting enquiries on maize gate. This is the end of times anthu adzakhala okonda ndalama in the name of allowances

  7. Iam yet to see where Chaponda is fitting in the whole story. Remember that the big target of all this is Chaponda because of his closeness to the president. Where can we connect Chaponda in the whole story here? Mapeto ake muyaluka nazo izi. There was a time during the Mwanza Murderers case when JZU’s was in every Malawian’s mouth implicating him as the masterminder of the murder yet the outcome from the courts found him clean. From the look of things Chaponda can not be traced in the whole story. What we want to hear from the inquiry and Kamlepo in particular is to tell Makawians what Chaponda said and to who in the whole chain of the buying process. What prominent people in ZCF did Chaponda meet and bribe. Which documents did Chaponda sign to authorize payment if any. Which price tag did Chaponda nod to. These are the things which we want to be told on the involvement of Chaponda not just noise on his name. The battle is still on because there will be places of findings where Msosa and Kalua will not agree. Which one between the two will Malawians use as true evidence? Everyone will support the evidence depending on which party he is affiliated. Kapito was just asking as to which specific areas is Chaponda involved. The enquiry can not squeeze him to any place apart from what the man himself has already told us. I can see the whole enquiry a flop if the target is Chaponda.

    1. You dull guy. You can’t see the connection here. Who is Minister of Agriculture? Who reported in parliament the 100,000 tonnes
      were purchased from Zambia ? Who went to Zambia as an envoy of APM to seal the deal? Santana you are dull

  8. Shaah! Government borrowing $4o million from PTA bank to buy maize but here is the product Malawians get. Its terrible experience. k

  9. Everything is always proved with facts/documents. I suspect Zambia is finding a way to run off on this. May they tell us what was the initial price ? And that should be proved by papers with authoritative signatories. And MRA presented document should be questioned and seen clearly on its possible.

    Nawo a Zambia anadyapo, now akusambira mmanja anzawo. SHAME !!!!!!!!

  10. The details of the new deal – the one directly between ZCF and ADMARC – are as follows, all according to Chirwa: ADMARC will still buy the maize at $345 per tonne, but ZCF will bear all costs, including purchase ($285/tonne), transport ($38/tonne), documentation ($5/tonne) and letter of credit from PTA Bank ($8/tonne), coming to a total of $336 per tonne. As the quantity of maize has been reduced from 100,000 to 50,000 tonnes, ZCF will make $450,000 on the deal, he told the Daily Nation.

  11. A Malawi tinazolowera moyo wozunzika sikuti apa tiphulapo kanthu, anyway lets wait and see. Ndalama iliyonse ya mMalawi wina aliyense ikulowa mmatumba a anthu. Akudya bwino ndi ma banja awo ife kwathu nkulila. Lets just shut our mouths basi. Tivomeleze kuti tili mu OVEN being cooked till death. Muona even 2019 ma vote apita komweku.

  12. 40 Days yamukwanira Chaponda.

    Ngakhale a Kapito alandira K23million kuti amuteteze Chaponda, koma apa pokha zavuta zitayang’anana.

    A Kapito mpaka kukalipira a Malawi shaaaa koma eeeee!

  13. Now this time around, Malawi is in a cleaning mode. Malawi is trying to reject corruption ranking. Let us make a collective victory and history that Malawi cleaned corruption once and for all in 2017 under vibrant Parliament. We can do it.

    I have a dream of a clean, corruption free leaders especially Ministers and Parliamentarians. A poverty free Malawi is possible. All things are possible.

  14. Chaponda ndi mchona anabwera opanda ndalama ndi nyumba yomwe lero akufuna kulemera ndi ndalama za kuba. Chonde a Malawi musazasankhe mchona pa mpando wa president

  15. ZOPUSA IZI. WERE ADMARC OFFICIALS PRESENT AT THAT MEETING. Why are our brainless embarrass the country more and more. Shaaaaa

  16. Now this time around, Malawi is in a cleaning mode. Malawi is trying to reject corruption ranking. Let us make a collective victory and history that Malawi cleaned corruption once and for all in 2017 under vibrant Parliament. We can do it.

    I have a dream of a clean, corruption free leaders especially Ministers and Parliamentarians. A poverty free Malawi is possible. All things are possible. We shall reverse the situation once and for all.

  17. Who is fooling who here????
    Tikudikiranso report la Mai Anastazia tione kuti iwo apeza zotani pa 9 Feb pano.
    Koma emwe apezedwe olakwa Boma lisanyengelere limange basi. Komanso ndipemphe Mai Anastazia kuti plz do not doctor the repport ……munatumidwa kuti mufufuze ndipo musanyengelere munthu pofuna kumukondweretsa….olo a President asadzakutumeninso zilibe kanthu bola inu muime pa chilungamo!!!!! Mulungu akuthandizeni pamene mukuima pachilungamo!!!! Remember that your report will carry more weigjt than all the other reports chifukwa inu munatumidwa ndi President

  18. Koma abale, kubaku mpakana liti? Kubera amphawife basi, sindidzagomelanso munthu wolemera akugwila ntchito mboma, zonse ndi mbava.

  19. a true Cop cannot answer like a kid like that.then zambia must have failed cops.why do you lie to Malawians.who in normal sense can take Kamleko seriously.since when he started talking nonsense what has he yielded so far,he thinks government can buy him.he is only a time waster,fit for Makiyolobasi.nobody steals maize ,they steal money! and nobody did this your money is in custody of Reserve Bank,No case to Answer.

    1. Koma ndiye nje nje nje kunjenjemera. Tulo tikukusowanitu mumafuna kutibera nkhanga zaona. The intention is enough kuti tizikakuonani ku Maula Prison. Munya chaka chake nchino

  20. Choonadi sichingakokoloke ndi madzi!! Pangapite nthawi yotani the truth always comes up! This is shameful to DPP gurus who are there just to enrich themselves on the expense of poor Malawians. You will perish.

  21. Now expose medical gate ku central medical stores, overcharing of medicines and medical supplies under buy malawi campaign. Suprising fact contract alip pa buy malawi campaign but mankhwala ama bwera ncokera kunja and over priced, ma DHO aku lephera kugula

  23. john kapito,can u come up plse.
    clear this mess,dont burry ur head in the sand,these guys need ur help,for sure not for nothing they will reward u handsomely kkkkkkkkkkk quickly dash to MBC tv & tell us ur jazz.amalawi pano anapenya ndi ochenjela zedi, pano olo utati tiyeni tikayende kumseu sitingapiteko ndipo osatheka, ukayendawekha kapena ndi zidzukulu zako

  25. Only a Malawian buyer/importer ask for a higher price than the seller’s price because there is nothing wrong. Telling the nation lies is not wrong in Malawi.

    This I have learnt from Mr. Mulumbe and ADMARC

  26. There is no proof of corruption here. All trumped up trivia. I have now concluded that it is all about witch hunting, finding fault and mere politicking going on. I rest my case.

    4. Haahahahahaha stupidest comment so far. What has the Zambian manager got to do with witch hunting DPP thieves

  31. Mabodza okhaokha. Mukhala choncho muwona.

    By the way, did you not expect Dr Chaponda to kick start the maize buying process with Zambian Govt as the responsible Minister? Wasnt his involvement necessary to expedite the procurement process given the urgency of the matter (hunger) that time? If people were to die of hunger, wouldn’t you still blame Dr Chaponda? Amalawi lets be realistic on this issue. Chaponda did his noble part. It was up to Admarc to finalise the deal.

    Again I say: Mabodza okhaoka. Mukhala choncho muwona.

    Chaponda ali pheeee enjoying my support and that of the majority bonafide Malawians. Salani muzisanduka.

    2. Mwamwene, you are an incorrigible idiot. Or you have mucus in place of brains!!! Mwanaimbwa!!!

  32. Where on earth would one hide his secrets where people may not know things? sizimenezi nanga?Okondedwa atsogoleri athu chimakuvutani ndi chani kukhutitsidwa ndi zimene Ambuye wakupatsani,makamaka mumafuna chani?vuto lanu ndi chani?kodi munatani abale?chimakusowani ndi chani?kodi anakulodzani ndi ndani?Bwanji osamufunsa Ambuye akuthandidzeni mayesero a nkhwidzi pa ndalama amene mumakumana nao? panokha simungakwanitse anzanu anayesela ndipo anakanika,mukuvutikilanji thandizo lilipo?

    Zamanyazi izi kwambiri!!! indeed signs of the end,
    Fellows read 2 Timothy for yourselves,Anthu dzakhala okonda ndalama,osakhoza kudziletsa,opanda chikondi cha chibadwidwe,okonda zosangalatsa munthu osati Mulungu and may more!!
    eeeeeesshhh!! ndathedwa nzeru!!
    Anyway tipitiliza kukupempherelani kuti chisomo chikugwewleni,mwina Ambuye angakutseguleni maso ndithu,otherwise disaster awaits for you if you do not change!

  33. Just an advise to the parliamentarians that a lot may be said but make sure that you get evidence in the following:
    1. Get Copies of contract between ZCF and Admarc and compare the copy with what ADMARC has if they are the same. Confirm if the contract conditions were met.
    2 Get evidence from ZCF of allegations that ADMARC proposed the $345 per metric tonne
    3 Get the evidence from ZFC on their response to the proposed $345 by ADMARC if they were happy or not happy with that as a supplier
    4 Get copies of maize delivery notes from ZFC and compare them with what ADMARC has
    5 Get copies of delivery notes from ADMARC of the 45 tones returned to ZCF and the contract of transporter ferrying maize back. The Transporter should also give delivery notes of maize delivered to ZCF
    6 Any allegations of corruption should be accompanied by evidence don’t just believe from the explanations.

    Much as you are overexcited with your findings, avoid disclosing to media before the report is submitted because it shows lack of professionalism

    1. They are not bound to be professional. We, the people, want to follow every step kuti adziwike amene wapangitsa kuti chimanga chisowe chilipo koma chifukwa chamtengo aMalawi kulephera kugula. Ameneyo akadye cement ku Maula Prison

Comments are closed.