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Government was NOT involved in the Zambia- Malawi maize gate scandal-Information Minister

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Information and Broadcasting Minister Kampamba Mulenga
Information and Broadcasting Minister Kampamba Mulenga

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Kampamba Mulenga has said that the Zambian Government was not was involved in the alleged Zambia- Malawi maize gate scandal.

In a statement released to the media, Ms Mulenga, who is also the Government Chief Spokesperson, said that the Zambian Government was not directly, or indirectly linked to the transaction.
adding that the Government only played a facilitatory role through the Ministry of Agriculture by waiving the maize export ban.

Below is the full statement

MAIZEGATE SCANDAL BETWEEN ZAMBIAN AND MALAWIAN GOVERNMENTS

Government wishes to dispel allegations being peddled by some people in some sections of the media that Government was involved in the alleged Zambia- Malawi maize gate scandal.

To the contrary, the Zambian Government was not directly, or indirectly linked to the transaction.

In the spirit of good neighbourliness, President Lungu and his Malawian counterpart went into an agreement to facilitate the Zambian grain dealers that had sufficient maize stocks to trade with their Malawian counterparts.

The Government only played a facilitatory role through the Ministry of Agriculture by waiving the maize export ban.

Therefore, Government finds the persistent attacks from opposition UPP President Dr. Saviour Chishimba totally baseless, misplaced and lacking credibility.

At the height of the shortage of maize in Malawi and the region due to the severe drought that visited the entire Southern African region, only Zambia and Tanzania were food secure in terms of cereal sufficiency.

As a matter of fact, Zambia has continued to receive requests from neighbouring countries to waive the maize export ban ,the latest being the Democratic Republic of Congo which sent a delegation a week ago to confer with the Zambian Government.

The Zambian Government has since allowed the Congo DR Government to buy 25,000 metric tonnes from grain dealers in the country.

Zambians may wish to note that arising from the imminent threat of hunger that faced the nation, one of the stop gap measures Government employed was to slap a ban on the exportation of Maize until further notice.

To this end, Zambia National Service officers and other law enforcement wings were deployed to man the borders through which maize and mealie-meal were being smuggled to the neighbouring countries.

It is important for people aspiring to the highest office in the land to be factual when discussing issues of national interest.

Government will not be swayed from helping its neighbours by persistent attacks from one- man party leaders like Dr. Chishimba.

Hon Kampamba Mulenga, MP

MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES & CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON

24th February, 2017

72 COMMENTS

    • Let us hear what people speak.

      The government has never said the deal was government-government deal.

      Government has always said the talk was government to government regarding waiver of export ban.

      The issue of how the tender process progressed was a sole responsibility of Malawians

      Who told you that if yo are a supplier you set up a tender procedure on behalf of the buyer and conduct a tender process on yourself and evaluate yourself?

      So stop this issue of placing the blame on Zambian government for Malawi’s failure to follow a procurement process, if at all they have one.

      You wanted Zambian government to go to Malawi and set up a tender committee and initiate a tender process on behalf of Malawians?

    • I will maintain my initial statement when she said government is not stifling the media…. NOT ALL OF US ARE STUPID ….Please

    • We still need an independent investigation to get to the bottom of this. I would to appeal to the govt to allow Transparency International Zambia to investigate this matter.

    • Since Dora & Permanent Secretary are not PF members then government is not involved. Somehow I get it Malawians never stole anything from PF government, except they were given master key clearance paper to steal anywhere.
      ZP giving infuti to robbers, and you say ZP not involved. That how us Bemba like Mulenga think, and I know traditionally she is right.

    • ‘One-man party…’
      There is no need to be sacarstic. Just address the facts. Why has it taken so long to give an answer?

    • Ba Peace for chakuti naimwe did you even read the report or you are a typical PF chap who operates using alternative facts? Dora issued a letter of credit for 50,000 metric tonnes without adhering to procedure. Read the damned report naimwe ba cadre. Yaba.

    • Being involved means being a part of something or associated with it. This means being connected by participation or association or use. If you volunteer on a team to clean up the playground, you’re involved in making it a safer and more fun place for kids to play. Similarly, if a person takes part in a bribery case voluntarily in involuntarily, that person is involved in the bribery case, but not necessarily guilty. Saying the Zambian Government was not involved in the Zambia- Malawi maize scandal when in fact the government took part in it at several stages of the transaction is scandalous and stup1d.

    • Let us hear what people speak.

      The government has never said the deal was government-government deal.

      Government has always said the talk was government to government regarding waiver of export ban.

      The issue of how the tender process progressed was a sole responsibility of Malawians

      Who told you that if yo are a supplier you set up a tender procedure on behalf of the buyer and conduct a tender process on yourself and evaluate yourself?

      So stop this issue of placing the blame on Zambian government for Malawi’s failure to follow a procurement process, if at all they have one.

      You wanted Zambian government to go to Malawi and set up a tender committee and initiate a tender process on behalf of Malawians?

    • “Government to government regarding waiver of export ban” or removal of any barriers to trade by 2 or more govts is actually the government to government deal itself. Its not the business of govts to export or import, but private sector.

    • Typical PF statehood – stay quiet or deny. No facts are provided. No sequence of events or trail of documents is provided. These people are blooody liars and thieves. What a bunch of conmen!

  1. I’m thinking, did this Minister read the report produced by the Malawian Government on the issue? Looks like she didn’t and just rushed to respond to shallow innuendos and hate speech against Dora Siliya on social Media.

    Here is the question that we want answered:

    The question that he Malawian Government concluded. A Malawian Company was issued an Export Permit by the Minister of Agriculture, even when it was clear that the Malawian firm was not registered in Zambia as a Tax Payer. This is the issue we want addressed. This is what the report from Malawi labeled as illegal and corrupt. Can the lady Government spokesperson speak to that report and answer this question?

    Dora Siliya is alleged to have acted illegally in issuing the export permit. That is the issue. We want to…

    • Dora Siliya is alleged to have acted illegally in issuing the export permit. That is the issue. We want to know why the Minister issued an export Permit to a foreign company that is not registered in Zambia as a Tax Payer without the Knowledge or oversight from her Permanent Secretary. This is the issue we want addressed. This is the issue the Malawian counterparts want addressed. Can the Minister speak to this issue. This is where we are smelling corruption and abuse of office. No tribunal needed. Let the people involved tell us why the acted that way.

    • Well, the thing is anyone who read the report and understands will realise that Malawian parliament was trying to place their procurement process failure on Dora and their agricultural minister.

      That was a very lame excuse for their own failure. The question is why did they place all the procurement authority on their minister? Two, did they hire Dora to carryout a tender process on their behalf?

      Had they done a proper due diligence, and carried out a normal tender process they would not have started to blame a Zambian agricultural PS for allegedly hand picking a supplier for them.

      Even if the PS gave the export permit to a particular company, the Malawians were not bound to that company.

      If the process on their part had been followed, they would have rejected the proposed…

    • If the process on their part had been followed, they would have rejected the proposed supplier. But all in all, I think they are still just trying to find a way of explaining their mistakes, but in a very poor way.

    • So because it is written in the Malawi Report – we must all conclude that she stole. Of course government is not saying that the Ministry of Agriculture was not involved (they issued the export permit). If that was criminally issued then there is a case to follow up.

    • @ Amangege

      The question which GRZ is avoiding to answer its not “If the permit was issued” (because it WAS ISSUED), but “WHY WAS ISSUED”?

  2. Dora Siliya using powers vested in her by GRZ facilitated by issuing a permit to a company which is not tax registered in Zambia and affect a ban on companies which pay tax here and you say GRZ was not involved. Maybe that’s why she said Ministry of Dora. Bottom power for sure.

    • Evening single sourcing, the buyer has a duty to evaluate the supplier.

      The Malawians should have done what is expected of any transaction.

      Do Dora command to follow her orders?. They should have told her that the company given the permit does not met our criteria for tender award. Why did they accept a company that did not meet their criteria. Or do they work in reverse.

      Even when single sourced, when printing election material for Zambia, don’t all parties migrate to the supplier (printer) premises and camp their till all is done and even escort the material tlll they are in Zambia.

  3. The PF government is dirty. That’s my only conclusion. Siliya still has a case in court over corruption. She is used because the Presidents she has worked with are also corrupt.

  4. Let us hear what people speak.

    The government has never said the deal was a government-government deal.

    Government has always said the talk was government to government regarding waiver of export ban.

    The issue of how the tender process progressed was a sole responsibility of Malawians

    Who told you that if you are a supplier you set up a tender procedure on behalf of the buyer and conduct a tender process on yourself and evaluate yourself?

    So stop this issue of placing the blame on the Zambian government for Malawi’s failure to follow a procurement process, if at all they have one.

    You wanted Zambian government to go to Malawi and set up a tender committee and initiate a tender process on behalf of Malawians?

  5. The point is govts in the world don’t export or import maize or any commodity or service. Even loans Zambia get every day from other nations actually come from private banks e.g. our own Finance Bank, Investrust, private companies. Arms we buy too aren’t supplied by govts of countries we buy from but private firms which produce those commodities though deals are called govt to govt. This is what we fail to understand in Zambia & you can even tell how the minister is struggling to explain, saying that we were not linked. The scandal is self-made by Malawians, they should have allowed their private sector to import maize just as we did in 1994 when we imported actually pre-packed milie meal. Its wake up call for ECZ to give tenders to private sector for importation of election chairs,…

    • Its wake up call for ECZ to give tenders to private sector for importation of election chairs, desks, solar lights, markers, etc. Why did Malawi allow a Malawian Company to Export maize into the country, though it was not registered in Zambia as a Tax Payer? Its them who knew the pre-qualification requirements for their supplier to be when they issued tender. Dora should have also consulted her technocrats not just issuing export license just because the 2 presidents had discussed. Its also her job to raise red flag to the presidet just like her technocrats should do to her.

    • @TRUE ZAMBIAN: Well said. This why I said under another thread yesterday (where Choma MP, Mweetwa, raised a point of order in Parliament about this case) that Dora Siliya is either Corrupt to the core or the most careless person to ever occupied a Cabinet office. She seems to have this impulsive way of doing her job. Taking shortcuts and cutting corners instead of doing due diligence before she acts. This is what got her in trouble during the AIRPORT RADAR-GATE (I think it was) and saw her appear before a Tribunal.

      Following laid down procedures in Govt is very important and there is a good reason for that—to curb Corruption or the “appearance” of Corruption among Govt officials and employees. But Siliya doesn’t seem to understand and appreciate this fact hence the troubles she…

    • continue:

      … creates for herself. Like you have said, Ministers should NOT just rush things through bypassing laid down procedures just because the directive is from the President. The same way Controlling Officers, who happen to be Permanent Secretaries, should NOT just do things just because the Minister tells them to. These people act as EYES and HEARS of their bosses (Ministers for the President, and PS for Ministers.) Therefore it is their DUTY to tell their bosses HOW and WHAT procedures are to be followed for anything requested of them. Any “BOSS” who gets p!ssed off because you tell them, or remind them, of the rules and regulations governing an issue deserve your none of your loyalty.

  6. So permits were waived and where was that much maize coming from…who in the country stores that much maize or has the capability

  7. Stolen things have a way of showing – holiday in the US, Europe, shopping, etc where did this holiday money come from other than Maizegate?

    The best Kambwili’s successor can do is to avoid being used like Kambwili to cover up wrongs.

    I am still curious how the supervisor was quick to dismiss CK but failing to discipline one wako no wako. It is tough to take action on a subordinate when you know you harvested. Ndeloleshafye!

    • This one will be used like that IG Stellar now in North America….she is simply reading vague statements written by Kaizer.

  8. Its obvious that a President and a Minister with thieving records could Not have missed a golden opportunity to make some bucks. The two shared the spoils and the Permanent Secretary who is the CEO of the Ministry probably got nothing. As they say the fish rots from the Head downwards and once a thief always a thief. That is the story for Chakolwa Lungu.

  9. We are told the govt facilitated the maize deal. So how much was paid to Chakolwa and Dora Siliti in Facilitation Fees. The people are corrupt to the core and there is No way they would have refused a Cut in the maize deal. Yes once a thief always a thief.

  10. Even single sourcing, the buyer has a duty to evaluate the supplier.

    The Malawians should have done what is expected of any transaction.

    Did Dora command them to follow her orders?. They should have told her that the company given the permit did not met their criteria for tender award. Why did they accept a company that did not meet their criteria. Or do they work in reverse.

    Even when single-sourcing, when printing election materials for Zambia, don’t all partie, big and small, migrate to the supplier (printer) premises and camp in their country till all is done and even escort the material tlll they are in Zambia?

    Is that not to make sure that the due process is followed?

    Even you Zambians when you read some of these so-called reports, try to allow at least natural…

    • Even you Zambians when you read some of these so-called reports, try to allow at least natural analysis if you can’t afford more than that.

      Don’t enjoy being deceived.

  11. And you call this i.d.i.ot a minister, u can fool some people some times but not all the people all the time. Dull s.t.u.p.id minister read the Malawi report before making your childish sho sho media response. Ohooops! looks like the f.o.o.l came to a gun fight with a tooth pick

  12. Shameless liar!!! Now it is everyone’s guess where this whole saga is heading to.DORA SILIYA IS INNOCENT…..!!! My foot!!! Who instructed the permanent secretary in her ministry to authorize the transaction,I thought that’s were SILITI is being cited in the malawian report? JOKERS!!!

  13. Lungu, that is what citizens need. At least you have responded to the allegations of corruption. What was difficult in issuing a statment to reassure zambians ?

    Pleas state house you need to be more responsive to allegations against you. Not this silence we are getting.

  14. Issuing export permit for maize is not exporting maize itself just like officer issuing burrial permit is not the one who burries the dead but relatives of the dead themselves. What Malawians must have been looking for is free maize not maize for purchase. Even for fuel which is plenty on world market, they don’t want to buy but they will beg for it from Zambia which doesn’t have any oil well but also just imports. If they went to Angola or Nigeria for oil, you can understand. They will implicate every one before they pay & may never pay. Please, sell to DRC, Zimbabwe, RSA who pay. In govt to govt deals normally all stringent requirement & criteria is waived & Malawi can’t turn round to say exporter was not registered for tax. They shoul have stopped it before ordering maize.

  15. The maize was F R A and not from private maize suppliers. Continue with your monkey tricks until 2020 then you will know how dull the monkey is the plain

  16. Lungu had talks with the Malawian Agriculture minister, the ban was lifted and Dora issued a permit. And then Kampamba says govt. was not even indirectly involved. What foolishness!

    In view of what the Malawians have done in relation to an issue in which Zambia and individual politicians are involved, it is only prudent, logical and a case of accountability that an investigation be instituted on our side of the border as well. Malawi has shamed us on this score, so far – perhaps for good. How many times have the authorities that be, in Zambia, actually investigated and taken action against politicians? This is in a country where any sane reasoning person who follows socio-economic/political issues knows corruption is endemic in the nation.

  17. Lungu met with the Malawian agric. minister, the maize ban was lifted by govt. and Dora issued a permit. Then Kampamba comes in to state that the Zambian govt. was not even INDIRECTLY involved! Please!

    In view of what the Malawians have done in relation to an issue in which Zambia and individual politicians are involved, it is only prudent, logical and a case of accountability that an investigation be instituted on our side of the border as well. Malawi has shamed us on this score, so far – perhaps for good. How many times have the authorities that be, in Zambia, actually investigated and taken any necessary action against politicians? This is in a country where any sane reasoning person who follows socio-economic/political issues knows corruption is endemic in the nation.

  18. There was no waiver of a the permit.. it has always been said that an an export permit was issued… then was the person that it was issued to entitled to have a permit… address these question not go on political and personality witch hunt…follow facts

  19. The deal was govt to govt and maize came from FRA. Dora gave her ‘Kantemba’ unregistered company Transglobal to get the FRA Maize and export permit to ‘overcharge’ the Malawians beyond the agreed price and share the loot.

  20. Hon Kampamba Mulenga, MP

    Please, can you check contents of UN General Assembly Resolution 56/63 (addopted unanimously) before exposing your IGNORANCE of what constitute STATE RESPONSABILITY

  21. Willing buyer willing seller. What is the big deal here? Did a powerful person either in Malawi or Zambia miss his or her cut in this deal? Both parties must have gained from the sale of such huge volume of Maize!!! In Africa getting some spoils from a deal will take long to stop. So get on with planting more maize and selling to neighbors and make business. The politicians will facilitate. And politicians please grow up and stop amateur business deals.

  22. Whether illegally exported or imported the only disappointing thing is why in this era should we be exporting raw grains. Why not crush it and pack. Making sure that we retain 90% of the jobs and revenue. Missed opportunity. Next time let’s do he wise thing. No processing no exporting period. We have the material so let’s dictate the the business deal.

  23. This minister is very foo.lish. She thinks we don’t know what they have been doing? Her statement is so hollow and lacks conviction. Deep down she knows that she is just covering up for the messed up government. Why are people in doubt that there was fraud in this maize saga? Edgar Lungu himself has no clean record. This is a guy who stole his client’s money leading LAZ to withdraw his license. In normal countries, Edgar would not have been allowed to stand as president with such a dirty record. He is a disgraced lawyer. The restoration of his license was politically manipulated. The beauty is that the record of his thieving can never be erased; he stole his client’s money and LAZ withdrew his practicing license. And this is the chap governing Zambia. What a shame. Can such a person…

    • You couldn’t put it more clearly than that. In a normal society, unfortunately Zambia can’t be classified as a normal country, Lungu and most thugs in ministerial positions wouldn’t be there. It’s like employing a pedophile to guard your teen daughters. That’s what Zambians did, employing a rat to guard their cheese. I mean there’s an irrefutable record that the president is a hard core criminal and a very untrustworthy person, a drunkard. But they asked him to be CEO of their money. Now they are shocked that within a few months he is a mult-millionaire! Not a normal society, Zambia.

  24. There is one Xavier Chishimba who has proof to show that there is some irregularities in the whole transaction. Instead if hearing him out, you are instead harassing him. Muyopanji amambala?

  25. Nostradamus what was stolen from Zambia apart from a business transaction between Malawi and a private business owner which couldn’t even materialize. You people what is wrong with you? Bushe mulefwaya bakalandile kumusula elyo mukofwa mwa? *****s.

  26. So why are donkeys not calling for investigating the two Presidents Lungu and Prof Mutharika since they gave their high level blessings to allow Malawi to import maize from Zambia?
    And this Saviour Chishimba, he has acquired the donkey disease so soon after the disease broke out? I hope WHO can develop a vaccine before the virus spreads to other “one man parties”. ..kikikikiki

  27. LT you report that Mutati talks about enthusiasm from investors interested in Zambia. Got ears to the ground here in UK nothing of what has been reported took place apart consultative meetings from office to office. UK at the moment is pre occupied with BREXIT landing and realignment of western and global investors. The contradictory statements from PF government with corruption does not go unnoticed to the would be investors.

  28. Hon Kapamba would have done better to address the issue raised in the Malawi report. it clearly states Hon Siliya erred in granting an export license to a company not legally registered to trade in Malawi. Why skate around the issue? Hit the nail on the head, madam information minister.

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