Zambian opposition calls for 'maizegate' inquiry

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Zambia’s opposition leader on Friday called on the country’s chief justice to open a tribunal into a controversial maize deal with Malawi.

United Progressive People (UPP) president Savior Chishimba told journalists a Malawian commission recently claimed Zambia’s agriculture minister was the chief facilitator in the purported transactions involving government-to-government exports of US$34.5 million worth of maize.

Chishimba has previously accused President Edgar Lungu of shielding corrupt Zambian officials.

“We want the chief justice to constitute a tribunal to probe our minister of agriculture for facilitating corruption in the ‘maizegate’ scandal which has brought the Zambian government into public disrepute,” Chishimba said.

On Tuesday, the Malawi commission of inquiry submitted to President Peter Mutharika claims Zambia’s agriculture minister not only engaged in dubious dealings but also caused the execution of the allegedly fraudulent maize deal.