- Tractors meant for farm mechanisation by smallholder farmers were sold to former Vice President, present and former cabinet ministers, PS, Legislatures including Speaker and some companies
- Agriculture Minister failed to disclose amount realised, price for each tractor and Maize Shellers and how the realised funds were used
- Parliamentarians demands names of owners of companies that bought some tractors and views the sale as political
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| Kamulepo |
Some opposition legislature’s have demanded total accountability and reasons that led to the sale of part of 177 Tractors and 144 Maize Shellers meant for farm mechanisation by smallholder farmers.
Members of Parliament (MP’s) also wants to know actual amount realised and how the proceeds from the sale of tractors and maize shellers were used including value of each machinery during the sale versus cost of buying of each item by Government some years ago.
However, of Minister Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development responsible to answer all those questions was so furious at the inquisitive legislatures and only gave what he said was what the House needed to know about the matter.
The matter was brought in the House following the question from Honourable Member for Rumphi East, Kamulepo Kalua to Allan Chiyembekeza, Minister of Agriculture on the Status and whereabouts of the Tractors and Maize Shellers which the country acquired sometime back from India.
The legislature said wanted to know why the country’s smallholder farmers are still failing to do their farming using modern equipments especially tractors.
In his detailed account of number of the matter Minister said a total of 77 tractors went to Government Institutions which are ADD’s across the country; Karonga ADD got 6 tractors, Mzuzu ADD got 13 tractors, Kasungu got 15 tractors, Salima ADD got 6 tractors, Lilongwe ADD got 11 tractors, Machinga ADD got 8 tractors, Blantyre ADD got 11 tractors and Shire Valley ADD got 7 tractors.
Chiyembekeza said the second part involves 31 Tractors, 13 Maize Shellers, 23 Tripping Shellers and 8 Seed Cam Fertiliser Applicators that were issued out to Government Departments and Institutions. These were; Crops Department (Horticulture Farm), Natural Resources College, National Food Reserve Agency, Department of Agriculture Research, Department of Animal Health, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Green Belt Initiative.
But the house was in disarray when he mentioned that some tractors were sold to companies, individuals and some farming associations without clear explanation of what prompted the sale and how that profited Government.
Chiyembekeza said, Tractors and implements sold in the first half of the offer went to 31 individuals and businesses. Among them Government officers who includes; Clement Kumbemba (current Executive Director of Malawi Investment Trade Centre MITC) and Rashid Mtelera (from OPC). Companies includes; Anachuma Holdings, IS Fred Limited, Green Leaf Association, Kasinthula Cane Growers and Wuli Trading Company.
In the second half sold to individuals including Francis Kasaila Minister of Transport, Honorable Khumbo Kachali former Vice President, Godfrey Ching’oma Malawi Congress Party MP, Richard Msowoya current speaker of National Assembly and Samuel Madula from OPC among others.
But the minister was not clear to demands on how funds were used, what exactly lead to the sale of the tractors and who authorised it.
Salima Central legislature Felix Jumbe proposed that since some names are of high rank officials from Government there should be an inquiry as to how they conformed to the procurement system.
Responding on this, Agriculture Minister said the equipments were sold to Malawians after normal tender was opened to anyone and applications were reviewed. He said some Government Ministries and departments were represented in a Committee that was chaired by Office of President and Cabinet (OPC).
He said the committee made equipment evaluation and restricted nobody from the floated tender. But mostly, he said small and medium enterprises with a minimum land of 5 hectares were eligible to buy.
However, Kamulepo Kalua who brought the matter said was not satisfied with the explanation
He said, he still wants names of directors of some companies named and suspects that those names have been deliberately concealed to prevent exposure of some top government officials.
Kamulepo emphasised that the sale was worrisome considering that the tractors were acquired through loan to support smallholder farmers do farm mechanisation to help country’s food security.
Leader of House, Francis Kasaila said Kamulepo is continously making very serious allegations which are demeaning the president by alleging that President is doing corruption and that he recently bought some vehicles dubiously. He asked the member to present his evidence by Friday or withdraw his statement.
However, Kamulepo said he did not mention President and he is not going to withdral his remarks because in his remarks he never metioned President. Instead he said he mentioned Presidential assistance at State House as the ones who are among people who bought the tractors and recently bought the said vehicles.
However, Kasaila insisted on his point saying the member knows that Presidential assistance do not stay at state house and therefore mentioning State House he meant president at all cost.
This forced Second Deputy Speaker Clement Chiwaya to make ruling that Kalua should bring the evidence to the House on Friday.
Later Salima South Uladi Mussa rose and complained that the sale never saved the purpose of the loan.
This was echoed by Malawi Congress Party Chief Whip Lobin Lowe who inquired about value of each tractor when sold versus cost of buying it.
Members insisted to get clear information and it was that insistence which forced AgricuAgriculture Minister to read the full list of beneficiaries. However members still feel that the names are doctored and that the tractors sale was against the purpose of buying them.
Earlier, the minister indicated that the tractors when procured in 2011 were supposed to increase the existing tractors in ADD's and offer some tractors to farmer groups and Malawian farmers through sale to increase ownership of tractors.
He thereforw said 69 tractors were offered for sale in 2014 and later sold 37 other tractors early this year by tender.
Full list
First half sale of tractors and trailers
Clement Kumbemba
Peter Zimba
Anachuma Holdings
IS Fred Limited
Balaka Market Resource Centre
Prince Nyirenda
Green Leaf Association
Alfred Nkhono
FISD
R.E. Enterprises
Mirriam Pamam
ISAM
Invesco Farms
Kasinthula Cane Growers
Wuli Trading Company
Mishek G Essau
Spencer W. D Ng’oma
Peter H Shawa
Mulli Enterprises
J. Manong’a
A. Y. Namaona
Grey Nyandule Phiri
Christine Mtambo
Moffat J. Chitimbe
Dr. I Benence
Hillario R. Chimota
Bright B. Kumwembe
Gerald A. Kachepa
Steve Donda
W. G. Lipita
Rashid R. Mtelera
Tractors and Implements sold in the second half
Tisi Nthukwa
Francis Enoch Juwawo
Richard Makondi
Tapiwa Phiri
James Maseko
Ronny Phiri
Mrs. Dorothy Mataya
Ms. Mada Sambo
Francis I Kasaila
M. F Kanjere
B.B.C Majoni
Ben Botolo
Thomas Makiwa
Arthur A. M. Liwonga
Hon. Khumbo Kachali
Peter Fret
Godfrey P. N. Ching’oma
Dorothy Chimatiro
Grant C. Kapiya
M. I Chikuntha
Newby Henry Kumwembe
Chisomo Farms
Ephraim Chiume
William Kantayeni
Dr. Lovemore
Mr. I. J Luhanga
Mrs. I. J Luhanga
Hon. Richard Msowoya
Nditse V. Kampane
Tcholose Simwaka
Margaret Loka Mauwa
Mr. Peter K. Simbani
D. G K. Mtupa
James C. G. Ali
Eddie Makungwa
Samuel Madula
Charles Kambauwa
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