The National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) board has confirmed the firing of the institution’s deputy chief executive officer Gerald Viola, on disciplinary grounds.

Prior to the firing, the Anti-Corruption Bureau had arrested him for offences under the Corrupt Practices Act and Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act. Viola is accused of unilaterally issuing Missies Trading a Local Purchasing Order (LPO) number 6750 to supply 10 000 metric tonnes of maize to NFRA, a deal that did not involve the NFRA Internal Procurement and Disposal of Assets Committee.

NFRA board chairperson Dennis Kalekeni justified the firing  based its decision on Viola’s employment contract and terms and conditions of service. “The legality or criminality matter has its own channels and systems of handling them which the

board cannot interfere with. So, the NFRA board should not be dragged into court matters, it has dealt with the matter within its mandate.” he said.