The Centre for Trade policy and Development has called on government to state its position in the Malawi maize gate scandal.
CTPD Acting Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo said the organisation finds the revelations shared by Malawi’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Development citing Zambia’s president and the Minister of Agriculture to have been at the centre of the deal quite worrying.
Mr Mwaipopo said CTPD calls for the government of Zambia to explain to the public what really transpired saying this is a transaction that was actually done at a time that Zambia had banned the exportation of maize on the understanding that the country was building reserves that would help the country meet its local consumption demand.
“Further, the fact that Malawi has instituted an inquiry in to the case indicates that there could have been under hand methods in procuring the maize from Zambia. It will be wise for the Zambian Government to also come out and explain to the public what transpired as we all know that maize is Zambia’s staple food and anything that concerns the commodity, concerns every citizen,” Mr Mwaipopo said.
He further called for enhanced transparency in all government procurement process saying this is key towards enhancing investor confidence.
“The ongoing maize scam has the potential to discourage private sector investments into the agriculture sector,” Mr Mwaipopo said.
The Zambian government has been caught between a rock and hard place. if they deny what Malawi government is saying, it is diplomatically undiplomatic (sorry for this English) on the other hand agreeing with the Malawian government’s suspicions will add fuel to the already media frenzy and crazy stories flying around suggesting that our government has chewed more than what we suspect happened – Maize was being exported to Malawi even outside this agreement by high ranking officials in PF in the name of raising funds in support the elections.
THis story is not going to end well- me thinks
BB2014,16
I am often intrigued by the names of many people in NGOs. Are they really Zambians? Mwaipopo?
Comment: The problem is our president has embraced people from mmd and gives them positions in which they cannot perform. I have in mind Hon. Dora Siliya who is minister of Agriculture, she seems to be very lost in that ministry and under normal situations she was supposed to travel back from wherever she is, in response to the out break of army worms and for the mentioning of her name by a Malawian minister in regard to the Maize export. This lady’s record is not very impressive as she was in problems when she was at transport and communications ministry.
Dollar Syria is in the right place for what Lungu wants to do. From now onwards PF will be making money not from roads and infrastructure contracts but maize experts. That’s why Dollar must be there at Agriculture to rake in billions from scams such as the Malawian one.
GBM is the one who is involved. Why is he zeee?
Yaba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pa zed chabe. Awe katwishi
Ba Centre for Trade policy and Development, Government does not report to you. Stop wasting its time by asking unnecessary questions of maize scandals which are happening in other countries. By the way don’t you know that government is fighting army worms. Contribute to the fight against army worms not bla bla bla bla….
We know you PF kaponyas think stealing is perks a job but the rest of zambia want lungu to state his position.
Even in situations where government integrity is questioned and need for clarifications there are those who will defend or try to deflect attention from what really matters to the development of the nation opting to live in a cocoon of deprivation!
While James Chirwa is busy defending himself over maize scandal,let him now explain exactly what transpired other that Zambai Police and ACC should immediately institute investigations so that those involved are brought to book.
Lungu will say nothing, zero, zilch, Nada.
A theif would rather remain silent if he knows nothing will be done to him.
But lungu should know he will not be in power forever…..crimes do not rot…..Mulandu su wola…..