Chaponda is a Christian, is married and has children.. During a parliamentary debate in the Malawi parliament in 2016, he was involved in an altercation with a Member of Parliament from the opposition People’s Party (PP), Harry Mlekanjala Mkandawire. Mkandawire is said to have said Chaponda is one of seven ministers alleged to be in an audit report for the plunder of government funds in Malawi, popularly known as Cashgate.
His son, comedian Daliso Chaponda, appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2017, claiming Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer. He ended up finishing in third place.
