By Cathy Maulidi
The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture has asked the Ministry of Agriculture to investigate the missing of Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) fertiliser.
Last week, there were reports that 1,500 bags of fertiliser went missing while in transit to beneficiaries, with Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) indicating that the matter had been reported to police.
SFFRFM Chief Executive Officer Richard Chikunkhuzeni said the matter was reported to Area 30 police headquarters and that law enforcers are investigating it.
“The information we got from the Kanengo regional manager is that the stocks went missing while in transit and the transporter and our officer lodged a police report with Area 30 Police CID [Criminal Investigations Department]. Police investigations are underway,” Chikunkhuzeni said.
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However, Agriculture Committee of Parliament Chairperson Sameer Suleman has demanded a separate inquiry into the issue so that, as police are investigating the issue, the Ministry of Agriculture can be doing its own probe.
“There should be a separate inquiry to establish what really happened to the fertiliser. It is not the first time for public goods in Ministry of Agriculture’s hands to go missing while in transit. Last time, it was 13 trucks of maize that went missing and police investigations led to nowhere. The minister should come out and explain to Malawians what exactly is happening at his ministry,” Suleman said.
When contacted for a comment, Agriculture Minister Sam Kawale said: “No comment”.
Meanwhile, Malawi Police Service spokesperson Peter Kalaya has said, this being a holiday season, he has to get hold of the responsible officers for an update on the issue.
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“Wait until I get back in office tomorrow,” Kalaya said.
The fertiliser went missing early this month. In 2022, 13 trucks of maize worth K123 million also disappeared while in transit and no arrests were made.
