President Peter Mutharika sent a warning on Wednesday against rampant theft on Government maize in ADMARC depots which has now created shortage of maize in most depots.
Reports indicate that some ADMARC officials are conniving together with some maize vendors to buy ADMARC maize at night and sell it to poor Malawians elsewhere at very exorbitant prices and in some places the maize prices are as high as Fifteen Thousand kwacha per 50kg bag, and those who cannot find maize at ADMARC or fail to afford such exorbitant prices are left
starving.
"It is with considerable sadness that I address you today because what is happening to the maize at ADMARC depots is totally unacceptable." Said Mutharika
He expressed his deepest disappointment to hear reports of maize scarcity in ADMARC depots just few months after Government procured and received enough maize to cater for everyone’s needs particularly 2.8 million people who needs food support.
"Most sadly, I have been told that there is critical shortage of maize at many ADMARC depots. I am further informed
that some ADMARC officials are conniving together with some criminal maize vendors, who buy ADMARC maize at night and sell it to poor Malawians elsewhere at very exorbitant prices. In some places poor Malawians are
forced to buy this maize at Fifteen Thousand kwacha per 50kg bag, because
they cannot find maize at ADMARC. Consequently some of them are now
starving. This is outrageous and most criminal. It is moral
recklessness which I am not going to tolerate, or allow to continue." He said
He then warn "I must
warn everyone strongly that such atrocities by criminal ADMARC maize vendors have got to stop immediately."
He said Police have been instructed "to investigate thoroughly, and take vigorous action."
"If they catch you, you will go to jail. So you better stop right away." warns Mutharika further indicating that Police will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that these culprits do not return on the scene to steal more maize.
"I am appeal to all decent Malawians to examine their moral conscience and reflect deeply." He added
"I have repeatedly talked
about patriotism, hard work and integrity. Because of hard work and careful planning, my government bought this maize through ADMARC at much higher costs for you to buy only at Five Thousand Five Hundred Kwacha (MK5,500) per 50kg. In effect, these thieves are therefore stealing this maize from you. If you are as morally outraged as I am, don’t just sit and wait for what the government and police shall do for you.
I want you to know that you can and must do something. The police are carrying out their duties to track and arrest these thieves. On your part, you know where these thieves
are and where they hide or sell the stolen maize. You know the ADMARC officials with whom they are conniving. I want you to report them all to the police immediately. The police will handle the information
confidentially so that these culprits will never know who turned them in." Appeals Mutharika then assured all Malawians that together with the help, police shall apprehend and arrest all the wrongdoers as a result this shall make maize to be
available in ADMARC depots for all who genuinely need to buy it.
Mutharika has also assured that ADMARC, will continue to replenish the maize stocks and there is additional money to buy more maize if needed.
A total of 2.8 million people representing 17% of the country’s total population was declared to be at risk of hunger for the period of 2015/2016 following adverse weather conditions early 2015 which resulted in declined maize production and other food crops across the country.
An assessment by the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC), carried out in June and July, 2015, the situation required humanitarian food to support the affected people was 124,183MT of maize equivalence.
Recent Government statement indicated that International Community assisted the country amounting to about US$91million but there was still a shortfall of US$55.378 million for hunger response.
To stabilize the price of the commodity on the market through ADMARC the Malawi government also, using its own resources, bought 30,000MT of maize from Zambia for ADMARC at a cost of K2.8 billion, and 22,193MT of maize locally at a cost of K2.6 billion.
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