ADMARC Board Chair, Alexander Kusamba Dzonzi confirming with Zodiak said a caretaker CEO is yet to be appointed in consultation with the ministry of Agriculture.

Chiphiko is accused to have authorized purchase of a Nissan V8 without approval of the ADMARC board.

“The General Manager of ADMARC has been suspended from duties following the procurement of a Nissan Patrol without clearance of the body and the board on 20th May resolved that he should suspended on duty.

“Ordinarily, when you suspend a person, a disciplinary hearing is done and then a determination follows,” said Dzonzi.

A governance commentator, George Chaima has meanwhile said the suspension was expected as it will allow further investigations into the matter.

“The suspension is to establish whether there was really an anomaly, so we cannot blame ADMARC for that,” said Chaima.

Purchase of the 107 million kwacha vehicle attracted wide reactions as it was procured at a time when ADMARC is facing financial constraints.