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A diplomat at the Malawi mission in Tanzania Weston Kanjira, who was involved in the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) maize scam and admitted to have owed the agency K20 million which he pledged to pay back, has been recalled from the mission.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation George Chaponda confirmed on Sunday that Kanjira is expected back home but said his recall has nothing to do with the maize issue.
“These recalls are the order of the day, we always recall our diplomats when necessary and when we have funds. His recall has nothing to do with that case,” said Chaponda.
However, when asked who else has been recalled apart from Kanjira, Chaponda said it would be difficult to name all those who have been recalled and that the ministry was not supposed to be mentioning names of those who have been recalled in the press.
“Ambassadors are supposed to stay for three years, some of them will be recalled when funds are available,” Chaponda added.
Kanjira recently admitted before the High Court in Blantyre that he owes the NFRA more than K20,733,935 in unpaid bills after the food agency dragged him to court for failing to pay for maize he bought in 2001.
The former UDF Member of Parliament for Balaka West pledged to settle the bill.
During the proceedings of his case the court learnt that NFRA did not follow procedures when selling most of the maize worth over K37.6 million to Kanjira. Out of that amount Kanjira paid K16,839,500 while cheques amounting to K16,428,700 were referred to the drawer.
Kanjira’s lawyer Noel Chalamanda declined to comment on whether his client has started paying back the money, saying it would be unethical to divulge such information on a client.
On the recall, Chalamanda said he does not think that it has anything to do with the case since it was only a civil case and not criminal.
“I am not surprised that he is coming because at one time he mentioned it to me that he would be coming to continue with his personal business here at home,” said Chalamanda.
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