Chaponda, Mulumbe go different ways on Admarc maize deals

Advertisement
George Chaponda

Minister of Agriculture George Chaponda has made revelations that contradict with what Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) boss Foster Mulumbe said on what transpired in the purchase of maize from Zambia.

Chaponda appeared before the joint Parliamentary committee of public accounts and on agriculture on Wednesday in Lilongwe.

However in his submissions, the minister made statements that have not gone in line with what Mulumbe told the same hearing two weeks ago.

His statements did not also tally with what the Zambian Cooperative Federation (ZCF) told the committee at a hearing in Zambia a week ago.

Mulumbe told the committee that Admarc wanted just 100, 000 metric tonnes of maize yet Chaponda claims government wanted up to 300,000 metric tonnes of maize.

On the part of ZCF, Chaponda said the company had inadequate maize in stock yet the same company told the lawmakers who travelled to Zambia last week that they had plenty of maize in stock.

The Minister also went ahead to say that in the deal, ZCF determined the price of its maize. However ZCF claimed that it was Admarc that had set the price.

Another notable thing on the deals was a contract Admarc had Kaloswe – a Zambian company which was used as a middleman in the maize deal.

Chaponda said Admarc did not tell him anything concerning the company. He however said what he knows is that the Admarc’s contract with Kaloswe was cancelled because the company is not ‘trustworthy.

The Minister claimed that his involvement in the whole maize deals only centred on policy guidance.

At some point he mentioned that he had travelled to Zambia in October last year where he talked to President Edgar Lungu to soften the maize export ban on maize in Zambia so that Malawi would manage to purchase maize from there.

‘’You must understand that we had to do anything to have the maize. I acted in a way meant to save Malawi from hunger,’’ he said.

George Chaponda
George Chaponda: Contradicts with Admarc’s story.

According to Chaponda, President Lungu had given Malawi a condition that the deal be a ‘government to government understanding.’

Asked on why he broke protocol in the processes the Minister said: ‘’ I broke no protocol. We worked so hard to save Malawi.’’

How the scandal began

Leaked documents showed that Admarc used a private Zambian company that was deemed to be more expensive than if the deal were government-to-government.

Admarc insisted that it was buying the staple grain from ZCF a government agency.

According to figures seen in documents, Admarc paid $34.5 million (about K26 billion) for the maize, which is $13 million (about K9.5 billion) more than the $21.5 million (about K15 billion) it could have paid had it bought the maize from Zambian government.

Malawi government obtained a loan of K26 billion from the Eastern and Southern African Development Bank (PTA Bank) to purchase 100, 000 metric tonnes of maize from government of Zambia through ZCF.

Government claimed that maize price was hiked from around K5000 to K12,500 per 50 kg bag to enable Admarc repay the loan.

Advertisement

37 Comments

  1. School kophunzila ndi kunja, kogwira ntchito nkukhala ku malawi chocho nkumati dziko lingayende? U Doctor ongogula pa net bvuto limakhala ndilimenero, how many graduate do we have here at home and where are they? Kumangoikana mmaudindo chifukwa chongofuna kuti mukaba muzigawana basii.

    1. Mfethu malawian politicians are wicked to the core and anthu akungopanga phokoso bano ba fb yet they are scared to face the people who are robbing them
      Minister wina amati malawians are lazy yet he gets his salary from the lazy malawians taxes

  2. I don’t think that you know these important people; Ilila Adini Kalele, Azayina Kachigamba Kalele, Mc Donald Kalele, Boniface Kalele, Caroline Kalele, Grace Kalele, Nasineya Kalele, Lubayini Kalele, Peter Kalele, Mariam Kalele, Adyera Kalele, Mavuto Kalele and Msayiwale Kalele. I didn’t call any insult or reply, thank you.

    1. Bola kuno sizikupweteka kwambili anthu wamba ,mbali ya Agriculture yokha koma ku Malawi zalowa umve ndipo mseu oyendamo wasowa ku Malawi mdima okhaokha

  3. Aaaa Chaponda said he didn’t know anything about Kaloswe company, yet he says he knew that Kaloswe cancelled the contract!! So he is lying that he didn’t know about Kaloswe Company? What is he hiding here? Food for thought! Money amounting to $34.5 was paid according to the documents. I thought they claim nothing was paid for the maize? Which is which here Mr Chaponda? Tell us the whole truth otherwise your Cadet supporters claim you have done nothing wrong. Really? Here you are full of lies in your contradictions. Why, why?

  4. Buying K5000 Selling K12,500 mmmmm!Andalenu ndi anthu oipa mitima anthu okuba kwambiri choncho Malawi angatukuke bwanji mbava za anthu inu?

    1. Yes but buying process of maize together should not differ. It is one process and they must speak the same on the procedures they used!!

    2. mybe am lost but to my understanding the minster make it clear that he was not directly involved in the buying process

  5. Ndikanakhala chimponda ndikanaonjezelaso mtengo wa chimanga kufika pa 20 thousands kuti a Malawi muziwekuti sitikusiyani kkkkkkk more fire chimponda ndimzako bwampini.

  6. ATTENTION ATTENTION!!!! Mothers and fathers,Doctors and nurses,Nephews and nieces,Brothers and sisters,i really don’t have something to say! Thanks for your attention

Comments are closed.