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| National |
| Wadi wants big offences in maize scam |
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by
Bright Sonani, 06 October 2004
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08:53:58
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The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Ishmael Wadi has said he is expecting to come up with more serious offences and ‘big’ charges against those involved in the Admarc and NFRA maize saga once he is through with a review of both the initial Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) report and the recent one from the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the management of the strategic grain reserves.
Wadi in an interview Tuesday said the evidence in the ACB findings revealed the offence of abuse of office but with the new evidence coming up it was likely that “big charges and serious offences” would come out.
“The investigations were done at different times and the commission of inquiry was well funded and encompasses wider areas. We are currently reviewing the two reports to see what other offences are there,” said Wadi, who described abuse of office as a small offence.
The ACB completed its investigations on Admarc sometime back. Among several others the bureau implicated former cabinet minister Friday Jumbe in the 2001 maize shortage and other officers from Admarc, Ministry of Agriculture and the NFRA. Wadi is on record to have said lack of political will has been preventing those implicated from being prosecuted.
Late in August a commission of inquiry appointed by former President Bakili Muluzi also came up with its findings which also connected Jumbe and his Superior Hotel to maize saga. The commission, which was headed by lawyer Khuze Kapeta, presented its report to President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Wadi said his office was currently in the process of preparing for prosecution, identifying and interviewing witnesses in readiness for the case.
He also said apart from the review of the two reports, the case was being delayed because his office was understaffed and financially incapacitated.
“The biggest problem is the capacity. On funding I can say we have completely no money,” he said.
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