Malawi maize scandal deepens
2002-09-25 11:22
Blantyre - Malawi's ruling party has fired the outspoken chair of a parliamentary committee who was investigating a maize scandal blamed for worsening severe food shortages here, an official said on Wednesday.
Joe Manduwa of the United Democratic Front (UDF) was fired on
Tuesday over his role in investigating the sale in the midst of a
severe drought in southern Africa of more than 160 000 tons of maize from Malawi's strategic grain reserves, the official said.
The sale has left the country with a 600 000-ton shortfall of maize, the country's staple food, and left 3.2 million Malawians threatened with starvation.
No reason was given for Manduwa's dismissal, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Chief whip George Ntafu faxed a letter to parliamentarians informing them of Manduwa's removal, he said.
"This is a move to block me from investigating some top people
involved, which we have uncovered," Manduwa said.
Officials involved
He said attempts to get details on politicians involved in the
maize scandal were frustrated by the UDF.
Manduwa, a former deputy agriculture minister, headed a
19-member committee that was due to present its report on the maize scam to parliament next month.
The maize scandal has cost the cash-strapped government $40m, and is blamed for worsening the nation's food shortages.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau is set to prosecute several
high-ranking officials allegedly involved in the sale of the maize reserves.
Manduwa, who remains an MP for Mwanza East district in southern Malawi, stirred controversy in parliament when he recommended the country should start growing marijuana, for non-narcotics purposes, to replace the main cash crop, tobacco.
He also has called for marketing a locally made herbal
aphrodisiac, saying if exported to western nations it could lift
the nation out of poverty. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA