DPP spies on Admarc
DE M O C R AT I C Progressive Party (DPP) has deployed ‘spies’ to state grain trader, Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc), in a move party officials say is aimed at curbing alleged ‘rampant corruption’ on money government has set aside for the purchase of farm produce in the 2016/17 financial year.
The move follows allegations of corrupt practices that the grain trader is buying produce, particularly maize, from large scale traders at the expense of small scale farmers.
Officials from the parastatal are conniving with private traders to supply maize at market level, a situation that has left most locals wanting.
In an apparent reaction, the ruling DPP has deployed its followers to spy on the institution, a situation commentators have criticised as a deliberate move aimed to abuse public resources.
Though Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Aggrey Masi, expressed ignorance on the matter, Presidential Advisor on Youth Affairs, Nick Masebo, alleged at a rally in Chitipa that the money meant for the procurement of produce is being corruptly abused, prompting the deployment of spies.
“There is corruption in Admarc markets and it is time we helped the President root it out. We are going to plant spies everywhere in Admarc from Chitipa to Nsanje. This will not be abuse of public resources and power,” Masebo said.
His remarks were substantiated by the party’s Regional Governor for the North, Kenneth Sanga, in an interview.
“Government is currently buying maize from Malawians but it is unfortunate that when money is released to buy maize it quickly runs out because of some people who bring to the market produce in bulk and deplete the money.
“We are saying this is unacceptable because it is the local farmers and ordinary Malawians that are suffering,” Sanga said.
Ironically, this is happening almost a year after the parastatal was embroiled in a maize procurement scandal involving the purchase of maize from Zambia.
Admarc announced the opening of its produce purchasing markets on June 23 this year.
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