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Peter Mutharika

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

President Mutharika ordered an investigation last month into the $34,5 million government maize purchase, following which he sacked George Chaponda, the southern African nation’s information minister said yesterday.

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. – Reuters.