Friday, March 29, 2024

Parliamentary inquiry on maizegate off to Zambia Tuesday

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A stack of over 14, 000 bags of maize purchased by FRA at Chipoka satellite depot since the marketing season exercise commenced.
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.

5 COMMENTS

  1. This This case will die out soon because lungu and top pf leadership are involved. The only ones to gain from this are the already rich lawyers while we poor pay taxes to cover their costs. Pf must go

  2. THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT THE OUR COURTS TO DEAL WITH THE SERIOUS ISSUES. MALAWIANS HAVE BY PASSED ZAMBIANS BY FAR IN DEALING WITH CRIMINAL MATTERS. WHAT WILL ZAMBIANS DO IF THE TRUTH COMES OUT AND POINTS THE PRESIDA AND FEW OF HIS PEOPLE LIKE SILIYA THAT THEY POCKETED THE MONEY FROM THE POOR ZAMBIAN FARMERS?

  3. Zambians always looking for the negatives. Just wait for the investigation to complete. By the way Saviour Chishimba has been summoned by the Malawi government for the remarks he’s been making over the issue.

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