A cabinet Minister in Malawi who is at the centre of a 34-million-dollar Maize import scandal has identified President Edgar Lungu and Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya as some of the key players in the deal.
Dr George Chaponda who is Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development in Malawi has revealed that he held meetings with President Lungu and Ms. Siliya to facilitate the export of around 100,000 metric tons of Maize from Zambia into Malawi to curb a biting hunger crisis in that country.
The Maize import deal has been shrouded in controversy which has prompted Malawian President Peter Mutharika to set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the entire scandal.
This has prompted the Malawi Anti-Corruption agency to officially write to the Anti-Corruption Commission of Zambia to request cooperation in the matter as part of its investigations.
But Dr Chaponda has denied any wrong doing saying his involvement in the deal was minimal.
He said on 11th December, 2016, he met President Lungu as a special Envoy of the President Mutharika on the export of maize to Malawi due to the fact that, a contract was already signed between the Zambia Cooperatives Federation and the Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) of Malawi.
Dr Chaponda said on the same day, he met and held a joint press briefing with Ms. Siliya at which she announced that despite a ban on Maize export, the Zambian government had approved export of 100,000 MT of maize to Malawi on a Government to Government arrangement.
He claims that no payment has been made to ZCF as the Federation as only supplied 4,000 metric tons of Maize into Malawi while the contract provided for a minimum of delivery of 10,000 MT before any demand is made to the Bank, to cash on the Letter of Credit.
Below is the full press statement by Dr Chaponda
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, IRRIGATION AND WATER DEVELOPMENT OF MALAWI ON THE IMPORTATION OF MAIZE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
The past week has seen a media frenzy on the so called maize gate being sourced from Zambia by the Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC.) The statements in the media have linked the maize purchase to my name as a stakeholder in supposed underhand dealings for myself interest (corruption)
I have decided to release this Press Statement to inform the General Public on what I know about the importation of maize from the Republic of Zambia by the Government of Malawi through the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC).
At the outset, let me report that, my involvement was minimal as the main buyer of the maize was ADMARC and not the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development. As most of you, may be aware, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development oversees the operations of some parastatals including ADMARC.
While the Ministry focuses on providing policy direction and guidance, the parastatals manage day to day operational issues of their institutions and they are answerable to their Boards.
Regarding the maize procurement from Zambia, I was not directly involved. You may wish to note that, I was appointed as Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development on 7th April, 2016.
The appointment came at a time when Government was facing an unprecedented maize crisis after the Ministry estimated low production of almost all crops including our staple food maize. We had a maize deficit of at least a Million Metric tonnes and more households were going to be food insecure.
The low production was due to poor rains that had affected the country because of the El Nino weather phenomenon that results in low rainfall. Unfortunately, the poor weather was experienced not just in Malawi but the whole Southern Africa and most African countries with only the Republic of Zambia that had declared a Maize surplus.
It was therefore decided by Government that I lead a delegation to the Republic of Zambia to explore on the possibility of purchasing at least 300,000 MT of maize.
On 18th May, 2016, I led a three-man delegation to the Republic of Zambia where I held a meeting with my counterpart, the Minister of Agriculture who gave us an approval to buy at least 100,000 MT of maize against our planned 300,000 MT. I came back to Malawi on 19thMay, 2016 and I left the team to contact the relevant suppliers. Upon return to Malawi, the team informed my office that the trip was futile as they had identified only one supplier whose price was exorbitant, at USD395/tonne. As such, no agreement was made.
ADMARC then undertook a follow up trip search for suppliers. It was during this visit that ADMARC reported that they met a number of suppliers including Kiloswe Commuter and Courier Ltd and ZCF. However, the credible agreement was reached with Zambia Co-operative Federation (ZCF) to supply 100,000 MT of maize. Thereafter, ADMARC held discussions with Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development to pay ZCF through a Letter of Credit (USD 34.5 Million) from PTA Bank.
Subsequently, we learned through a Press Statement issued by the Zambian Government that they had banned maize exports and by that time ZCF had not yet started supplying the maize.
Therefore, on 11th December, 2016, as a special Envoy of the President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, I led a delegation to meet the President of Republic of Zambia on the export of maize to Malawi due to the fact that, a contract was already signed between the ZCF and ADMARC.
I arrived in the Republic of Zambia on the same day, met the President of the Republic of Zambia and thereafter attended a Press Briefing conducted by my counterpart, the Minister of Agriculture in Zambia during which she announced that the Government of Zambia had approved export of 100,000 MT of maize to Malawi. I came back from that trip on 12th December, 2016. This was on the understanding that this was a Government to Government arrangement.
I have also been informed by ADMARC, that no payment has been made to ZCF as the contract provided for a minimum of delivery of 10,000 MT before any demand is made to the Bank, to cash on the Letter of Credit.
To date ZCF has supplied only 4,000 MT of maize.
Finally, I welcome the Commission of Enquiry that has been set up by His Excellency the President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to investigate the matter at length.
Dr George T. Chaponda, MP
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MALAWI)
Title is misleading. Sounds like President Lungu is linked to the scandal if simply see the head line.
Ba Edgar, fire Dora!!!! Or get impeached.
PF cadres are really paranoid, are you scared or hiding something. This headline is correct and LT got it spot on. There is no doubt that Dora Siliya and President Lungu were key players in this Maize DEAL and not Maize SCANDAL..the two are different, at least from the Zambian side. You seem to read SCANDAL in your heads because you know the details
But because you are corrupt to the core , you are even scared of a fly going past
Remember RP Capital and Zamtel, It was Dora, Airport radar , It was Dora, Why Zambians voted For EL, still do not know. Them same thieves you kicked out with RB are back this time with visionless EL, They will sweep the treasury clean.
Of course he is. If the guy giving the statement is then so is the president. He was very much aware of the deal and if it was dirty he should have terminated the agreements
Mutharika sent a minister. Why didn’t he just end up with his fellow minister. Dora, if need be, would have reported the matter to cabinet. This was not our emergency that would have needed Edward’s intervention. The only reason Edward got himself involved was to secure his cut.
Editor Happy New Year!
I believe in this feed, the headline is malicious. The report has no correlation to the headline. Unless it’s a copy & paste work from some social media site run by alarmists, I advise you put up an apology to the accused especially President Lungu.
I support media freedom and criticism of leaders, but not fake news. Campaign season is long past. It’s time to work smart towards a better Zambia for all. Continue to serve as a voice of reason and not catalysts of hatred.
Funny! The Malawian minister was sent by the president who the minister was to give a report on return and if any need arose Mutharika would just have picked his “Red Line” to call his counterpart! The trio Lungu, Siliya and, Chaponda care the complexity matrix to ZCF and ADMARC!
Please substitute “carry” for “care” to the complexity matrix.
This Parliament has all the Hallmarks of the RB days shrouded around it. All the thieves are back at the helm. You name them, Dora, Austin Sichinga and a hell lot more new comers. They will plander and this time they will make sure that they stay on as long as they can by stumplng down all opposition. They will even fight for another term to milk Zambia for all it has.
Title is misleading. Sounds like President Lungu is linked to the scandal if you simply see the head line.
@Khakis, how did you even get nominated????? Title is clear. What a president. I told you state house is involved.
Yes Dora Siliya has been out of country to spend and clean the stolen money.
Edgar is linked because it is him to refund Malawian government.
@Ndanje khakis
Just wait. He could be linked. He is a proven thief. He stole money from a poor woman. He stolen election victory from HH, he could steal anything. It’s not beyond him to extend his nefarious activities to maize or any other crop.
Of course he is. If the guy giving the statement is then so is the president. He was very much aware of the deal and if it was dirty he should have terminated the agreements
Of course he is. If the guy giving the statement is then so is the president. He was very much aware of the deal and if it was dirty he should have terminated the agreements. The heading is okay
There will be a rush to supply in order to sweep matter under carpet and then the words Army Words will be used constantly as the surplus is transformed to potential famine. Brace for impact!
That should read Army Worms
Nostradamus, I am not aware of my nomination and which category? Please read the Malawian minister ‘s report. No where does it say Edgar is “linked “. The minister simply reports that he was sent by his president to solicit for maize from Zambia through the ZAMBIAN president. Who did you want him to meet? All you spend time on is dreaming of ways to embarass the government. I am not saying one cannot be corrupted, but to all the time demonizing others makes you even more evil. Try for once to be positive about people even if you don’t agree with them.
This is a small thing to lungu; the guy sent KBF to woke up judges around 3am so as to issue a restraining order against Dr. Scott’s led convention.
This is a Wako-ni-wako deal between the same people in Malawi and Zambia. These clannish thieves promise to be worse than Bembas at thieving. The sole reason Dollar Syria was made Minister of Agriculture is that that’s where money is to be made over the next 5 years by Lungu. There are no more Eurobonds to steal. Farmers and consumers should expect to be robbed blind by Lungu and his tandem of PFhieves.
There is definitely something fishy here, ZCF is not Government but for political expediency they have been used as a vehicle for first solar power stations which were supposed to be milling cheaper mealie meal but all of a sudden they are involved in export of maize which they are supposed to be milling hence no price reduction for the Zambian citizens who were supposed to be beneficiaries. President Lungu should not be involving himself in such transactions as clearly he will become an accomplice just as has been mentioned here. Ba Dora Siliya is well known for corruption and the earlier the President learns that, he is doomed. This transaction is clearly corrupt hence Mutharika setting up investigations and Lungu is part of it, period!
All I see here is $34.5m and delivery of 4000t. The rest is murky water aside from Malawi making it clear they were willing to buy. The question is who inserted themselves in the middle and that’s where all the payoffs are tied in to.
ED2.0 and the selfie lady will claim to have clean hands but are now 96000t short. If you are the little guy in the deal you better start running coz a sacrificial lamb is immediately required.
PF IS A PARTY FULL OF THIEVES,CORRUPTION,HYPOCRITES,DRUNKENNESS.WILL BE DANCING DUNUNA REGRET SONG FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS OF THIS CHIPANGA FAMILY PARTY…
PF have turned Zambia into a kleptocracy. This govt is full of shameless thieves.
The thing to do now is to begin preparations to impeach the thieving president. He has now re-grouped with a seasoned and very organised criminal outfit, MMD. Before it’s too late get rid of him!
Edger is a thief, Edigar is a thief, Edigar is a thief. Ban the thief and his girlfriend Dora from entering Malawi.
a big thief,a big army worm…
Ok I get it.So this is the money they used to buy ifitenge during erection campaigns.
The elections were held on 11 August and the deal was discussed on 11 December so how was the money used as you allege? If this is what Upnd can offer, then I pity HH.
@nzovu do you mean manhood/penis erection?
Is that why Dora is so rich that she’s on holiday in America busy taking selfies with Mike Tyson?
No
Zambians just cool down a bit with your freedom of expression. The minister is trying to clarify the all issue. The point is ZCF only delivered 4000MT of maize and they are not paid yet. This means the officials from Malawi must explain whom they have paid the millions of money being talked about.
That’s exactly the point “itchy fingers ” are deliberately failing to appreciate. The lies on line media will start a nuclear war when there won’t even be any need. Just today some online reported the Queen of England had actually died and that’s she didn’t attend the festival church service. And of course the gullible fell for it.
CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES. THIS IS A SCANDAL. PRESIDENTS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE BROKERS OF DEALS BE IT GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT OR WHAT EVER. THERE ARE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE MANDATED TO UNDERTAKE SUCH TRANSACT. WE CAN ONLY IIONS. WE CAN ONLY MAGINE HOW MANY MORE DEALS ECL AND HIS MINIONS HAVE BROKERED. SHAME.
@njamba, The minister was sent by his president to see the ZAMBIAN president who after discussion sent that minister to Dora the minister of agriculture. The report has explained this very clearly so I don’t what else you know about this issue. Did you want the minister not to mention Edgar Lungu when he actually met him as directed by his president? That “scandal ” if there’s any could be purely a Malawian affair.
Who owns Kaloswe?
Misleading headline!!!
This country must be closed. I don’t know how, but it should be given to a receiver. Kulibe chamene chichitika
Zambia is truly a failed state. It is just a charade of a jungle pretending to be a country.
How did this article even pass the editors nose…pure rubbish and misleading title.
@ My Zambia …. by the fact that you are asking this question tells you how little our Journalists try to investigate these cases ? its a question of getting shareholders at PACRA
Since when did presidents become party to a maize deal? I smell a big rat.
a big army worm at work…
Lusaka times, stop with the sensational fake titles, you are beginning to sound like CNN and Fox news. Give us fair unbiased reported facts. Do not add your Kalomo and Chadiza spin to it.
WE MUCH CALL A SPADE A SPADE. LUNGU IS A CRIMINAL AND A ROBBER PERIOD
Considering the world wide influence that CNN and Fox News have, LT are in good company and should continue what they are doing. If you disagree, why not restrict your diet to ToZ and Daily Mail?
Lung is a thief…
Anyone who gives a go ahead to a dodgy business deal is either a beneficiary or too damn to understand things to the extent of being duped. Period! Now considering that the president has teams of Advisors, technocrats and security wings around him this can only happen with his full knowledge and therefore a possible beneficiary.
Lungu is corrupt and a thief. He always claims nonparticipation and ignorance but he is at the centre of all scams, including bribing judges, milking contractors for kickbacks and now overpriced maize sold to Malawi.
Title misleading . Mean time not even a single payment has been made. Some news!
Very low morals and lack of integrity! If money has not been paid, it is for lack of performance but the intentions are clear.
ZAMBIA SHALL NEVER DEVELOP BECAUSE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF THOSE CONTROLLING ZAMBIA ARE GETTING RICH EVERY. IT IS SAD AND SHAMEFUL TO HEAR THE PRESIDENT BEING MENTIONED IN SUCH SCANDLES WHILE HE KEEPS QUIET FROM THE SAME. THE TWO ( LUNGU AND DORA) MUST TELL THE NATION WHERE THEY HAVE TAKEN THE MONEY. THE PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE MAIZE ARE PEASANT FARMERS WHOSE SALARY COMES ONCE PER YEAR THROUGH TOILING AND GET PEANUTS FROM THEIR SWEAT AND A LEADER LIKE LUNGU WHO MUST BE TO THEIR SIDE ENRICHES HIMSELF IN PRETENDING THAT HE LOVES THEM
The farmers growing this maize are the biggest loosers. Just imagine the trouble farmers undergone to till the land, secure inputs such as seed and fertilizer, harvest and then not be paid for a long time. Yet a few privileged individuals bulk and sell the maize at high profit!! Only God will save the poor in this world.
There was a ban on exporting maize after the minister met the president the ban was lifted the question is who lifted the ban is it lungu or silia
Most likely the ban was exceptionally lifted to facilitate the sale to Malawi at Lungu’s behest on being convinced by Siliya thus she had to conduct the press briefing! Probably best to conclude that the series of incidents on the Zambian front were driven by the Minister of Agriculture, Dora Siliya.
The headline is indeed misleading. How can a deal that was approved by all relevant government agencies became a scandal?