MULANJE (Maravi Post)—Malawi Agriculture minister George Chaponda, him who is said to be harboring presidential ambitions in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was given a vote of no confidence by his own constituents as a handful of them came to witness what was billed to be a high profile meeting at Mendulo Primary School in the southern district of Mulanje.
The Minister was accompanied by Chinese government officials to officially receive boreholes sunk by the Chinese government yesterday.
In Malawi, Politicians use such functions to show their political muscles and more so that it was in his own area, Chaponda was expecting nothing but to shine with a good patronage.
Contrary to his expectations, Chaponda was welcomed by a handful of his own people; a development which commentators say is a vote of no confidence on the part of the Minister.
Literally counting, eye witnesses say his crowd of countable people could not reach 100 and pictures taken during the event depicts a bitter Chaponda showing a sad face as he looked into the small crowd.
“All I can say is that things are not really going well for the minister at the moment, this event has just disgraced him further,” said one analyst.
Chaponda woes:
The minister is under heavy fire from civil society organizations and opposition parties who are baying for his blood. They want him to step down from his position to pave way for smooth investigations on his role into an alleged fraudulent procurement of Maize by Malawi government from Zambia.
The Civil Society Organizations displayed their seriousness when they went to court to obtain an injunction to restrain the minister from discharging his duties.
Chaponda remains suspended pending court ruling on 31st January, 2017 Government is challenging the injunction and having presented their arguments at Mzuzu High Court in order to revoke the injunction, the presiding judge has set 31st January 2017 as the date he will decide on whether to vacate the injunction or not.
This implies that the Minster remains suspended as per the CSOs injunction until such date when the court will make its determination.
Other chaponda alleged corrupt scandals in the public domain
Chaponda is also alleged to have been heavily implicated in a United Nations keeping funds where he is alleged to have dipped his hands in the kitty.
He is also alleged to have diverted funds to his personal bank account in South Africa meant for an American PR company which Malawi government hired to speak good about the country in a bid to woo investors into the country.
He is in Malawi regarded as a symbol of corruption and is also featuring on an alleged list of President Mutharika’s allies who are being targeted to be banned from entering the United States of America because of their alleged corrupt activities.
However, Chaponda defiantly told the nation that he cannot resign because of calls from “jealous” people.
Chaponda satire on the social media The social media is awash with satire about the alleged corrupt escapades of Chaponda. Below are some of the jokes that are taking a dig at the disgraced minister:
*Chaponda( Noun )* _meaning to ‘ step on without regard to peoples feelings, while benefitting oneself immensely_ *’verb ( ponda )* _act of stealing, especially with regards to abuse of authority, normally when the ‘ ponderer ‘ has far much power than the ‘ apondees’ like plebians, slaves etc_ Others have gone as far as referring to Maize as Chaponda. Look at this: “Ine ndili phee panyumba kudya Chaponda wanga” literally meaning ‘I am enjoying eating my roast maize at home’.
Another one:
The current ‘Chaponda prices’ in Lilongwe Vendors:K 11,000/50kg ADMARC: K12, 500/50Kg Chaponda wa Dowe Chachiwitsi-K70/cob Chootcha-K100/cob Chophika-K80/cob Kugaitsa Chaponda Mitengo yovomeledzeka agwilizana mawa a association
Bulldozer turned snoring dozer Chaponda has been touting himself as a bulldozer but his recent escapades as coupled with a parley event where he was literally caught sleeping has earned him a deserved title of a snoring dozer.