Opposition People’s Party (PP) has join calls for the immediate firing of Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Dr. George Chaponda over his dubious involvement in the Zambia maize-gate scandal.
The call comes barely days after the commission of inquiry instituted by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika led by retired Chief Justice Anastazia Msosa released its findings implicating Chaponda and Transglobe.
The Commission of inquiry recommended that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) should investigate Chaponda, saying his involvement in the procurement of maize from Zambia is suspicious.
Commenting on the report, PP Spokesperson Noah Chimpeni asked President Mutharika to act on the report as soon as possible.
“President Mutharika should first fire Chaponda if he wants Malawians to take him seriously in the fight against corruption in the country,” said Chimpeni.
Reacting to the calls, President Mutharika’s spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani said Mutharika cannot be pushed to fire Chaponda.
Kalilani said Mutharika is not having any plans at the moment to make changes in his 20 member cabinet.
Meanwhile unconfirmed reports indicate that Mutharika has reinstated Chaponda as Leader of the House in parliament replacing Kondwani Nankhumwa.
