Opposition MPs block Chaponda from responding to questions in Parliament

Opposition Members of Parliament on Tuesday morning stopped Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Dr. George Chaponda from responding to questions directed to his ministry in the National Assembly over his involvement in the Zambia maize-gate scandal.

The MPs branded Chaponda as corrupt Minister who is not supposed to stand in the August House of 193 MPs and answer questions.

The whole issue was started by Member of Parliament for Mzuzu City Lenard Njikho who posed a question to Minister of Agriculture.

When Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Esther Mcheka Chilenje recognized Chaponda to respond to the question, Member of Parliament for Kasungu South stood on point of order saying Chaponda is not supposed to respond to questions as Minister of Agriculture.

But Chilenje trashed the claims, saying Chaponda is not yet proven guilty and cannot be stopped from responding to questions in Parliament.

As Chaponda was about to respond to the questions, opposition MPs started booing him forcing Government Chief Whip Henry Mussa to differ the questions directed to the Ministry of Agriculture to a later date.

The development attracted ululation from opposition MPs.

The commission of inquiry instituted by President Mutharika recommended the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate Chaponda, saying his involvement in the procurement of maize from Zambia was suspicious.

Meanwhile Chaponda has described the alleged investigations as being championed by northerners.