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A diplomat at the Malawi mission in Tanzania Weston Kanjira Tuesday admitted before the High Court in Blantyre that he owes the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) more than $190,000 in unpaid maize bills.
Kanjira, who was UDF MP for Balaka West in the Bakili Muluzi regime, was dragged to court by NFRA for failing to pay for maize he bought from the organisation.
NFRA lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale told the court that Kanjira, through his lawyer Noel Chalamanda, had admitted the debt to NFRA and agreed to pay.
“My clients will be asking Kanjira to pay the principal sum of K20,733,935.00 plus interest at the ruling bank rates applicable from time to time from January 1, 2002 to the time he will finish paying,” Kaphale told Judge McLean Kamwambe, who was only sworn in last week.
Kaphale also said NFRA is demanding legal collection costs amounting to about $7,000 and three percent of the interest which the banks are going to calculate on the principal sum.
“There will be no execution of the agreement in the next 30 days to facilitate the process,” said Kaphale.
Chalamanda confirmed to the court of the agreement.
He said later in an interview that Kanjira will pay the money after working out how he is going to settle the money with NFRA.
Kamwambe praised the two parties for resolving the matter amicably, saying the development has saved the court’s time and resources.
Court records indicate that out of almost $342,000 worth of maize Kanjira bought from NFRA, he only paid $153,000 and cheques amounting to about $150,000 bounced from the banks.
Kanjira at first welcomed the legal suit, saying it was his chance to be cleared by the court of law.
Muluzi appointed Kanjira to the diplomatic service after he withdrew his candidature to pave way for his rival to contest in the May 20 general elections.
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