The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has said it is analysing and reviewing documents and gadgets it seized from the former minister of agriculture, George Chaponda’s residence about three weeks ago, saying the analysis will determine deadline of their probe.
In a response to an e-mailed questionnaire, ACB Senior Public Relations Officer, Egritta Ndala, said the bureau cannot be specific as to when it will be through with the analysis.
“The Anti-Corruption Bureau cannot give a date as to when the investigation would be concluded but Malawians should be assured that the bureau is working hard to ensure that the investigation comes to a logical conclusion as soon as is practicable,” Ndala said.
A search on Chaponda’s Area 43 residence in Lilongwe, led to the seizure of about K166 million in different currencies.
The money was taken to Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM). And Ndala said the money is still at the RBM for safe custody.
The raid followed recommendations by a presidential Commission of Inquiry and a Joint Parliamentary Committee Inquiry that the ACB and the Malawi Police Service must probe Chaponda further for his involvement in suspicious import of maize from Zambia by government.
The graft-busting body has also confiscated computers, files and other office equipment at head offices of Transglobe Limited and Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) in Blantyre.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of Corruption and Rights Watch (Corwa), Eliah Kamphinda-Banda, has said the probe should be hastened so that the truth about the whole issue is known.
“That issue is a serious one. Malawians are keenly following it. Truth must come out. Malawians are being denied a chance of knowing the truth about it. If the investigations are completed, and Chaponda is in the wrong, the law must take its course. If he did nothing wrong, he will have his name cleared,” Kamphinda-Banda said.
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