National Advocacy Platform calls for the firing of Mulumbe, accomplices at Admarc

National Advocacy Platform  chairperson Benedicto Kondowe has recommended  the State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc)  board to quickly boot out chief executive officer Foster Mulumbe, who is currently on forced leave to pave the way for the probe,  following two commissions of inquiry into the purchase of maize from Zambia.

The  recommendations to the Admarc board made by the two commissions—one instituted by President Peter Mutharika and the other by Parliament— was to begin disciplinary proceedings against Admarc’s senior management.

Mulumbe  is named as the key person in the flouting of the procurement procedures.

In an exclusive interview Kondowe whose organisation represent 65 NGOs across the country commended President Peter Mutharika for taking action on former Minister of Agriculture Dr George Chaponda in order to pave way for proper investigations to take place by the corruption bursting body Anti Corruption Bureau.

“The ADMARC board should fire the incumbent Chief Executive Officer for ADMARC Mr Foster Mulumbe with immediate effect. The commission of inquiry has made unequivocal submission that the said CEO was negligent and reckless because the maize issue did not involve Chaponda alone,” said Kondowe.

Kondowe has also demanded firing of all public officers involved in  crimes committed around the procurement of maize from Zambia.

“The FISP contract between Malawi Government and Transgrobe must be suspended and investigated owing to the shoddy dealings of the said company in thr maize procurement saga.” said Kondowe.

On top of firing Mulumbe and his accomplince, NAP is demanding immediate publication of full account detailing the maize transaction including the volumes of loans from PTA.

On legality of money found in the Chaponda house, Kondowe said the matter needs to be left in the hands of the courts to give its opinion.

Meanwhile, Admarc board of directors has called for a special meeting to deliberate the findings of the two commissions of inquiry.

Board chairperson James Masumbu said a full board would be meeting “soon” to come up with a decision following the damning reports’ recommendations.

The report, issued by the commission of inquiry set up by Mutharika and headed by retired Chief Justice Anastasia Msosa, faulted Admarc management for not following government procurement procedures and fraudulently entering into contracts.

On the other hand, the joint parliamentary committee discovered that Admarc’s contract with Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) was fraudulent as it was backdated to June 17 2016 when it was signed after a month just to get approvals from Office of the Director of Public Procurement (ODPP).

Further, the committee found that Admarc’s alleged fraudulent activities extended to the internal procurement committee which recorded that the chairperson was present when in fact he was in Zambia at the time.

Thus, both reports recommended disciplinary proceedings against some senior officials of the trouble-ridden State produce marketer.

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