Malawi’s president sacks agriculture minister in maize procurement probe

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Malawi’s president sacks agriculture minister in maize procurement probe

1:23 CAT | 22 Feb 2017

AP (File photo) / Flooding and drought wrecked Malawi's maize harvest, so the country has been importing the staple crop.

Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika has dismissed the agriculture minister after an investigation into claims that the country paid too much for a delivery of maize from Zambia.

Mutharika ordered an investigation last month into the $34.5 million (£27.7 million) government maize purchase, following which he sacked George Chaponda, the southern African nation’s information minister said on Wednesday.

Chaponda was not immediately available for comment.

Zambian opposition leader Saviour Chishimba said in December he had seen documents showing Malawi had been charged $345 per tonne for the 100,000 tonnes of Zambian white maize that was worth $215 a tonne. Shortly after the president launched the probe.

Malawi is importing maize to ease food shortages affecting an estimated 6.7 million people, triggered by a severe drought that swept the region in 2016.

Some senior Malawi government officials have said the price was higher because a transport and logistics company had to be hired to move the maize between the neighbouring countries.

Source: Reuters