President Peter Mutharika has fired Minister of Agriculture George Chaponda from his cabinet with immediate effect. Presidential Press Secretary Mgeme Kalilani has confirmed the development.
Chaponda’s firing comes barely a day after the Anti-Corruption Bureau raided his Lilongwe residence and seized MK166 million in different currencies including US dollars, South African Rands and Botswana Pulla.
The money has since been deposited with the Reserve Bank of Malawi. The raid follows reports by Presidental Commission of inquiry and a joint Parliamentary committee inquiry that recommended a probe on Chaponda, for what they called ‘suspicious’ involvement in the purchase of maize from Zambia.
Opposition members of parliament, civil society and members of the general public have been intensifying calls for Chaponda to resign, to pave way for investigations into the maize deal.
In a statement, the State House says all matters regarding the Ministry of Agriculture should be referred to President Mutharika.
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