By Isaac Salima:
The Ministry of Agriculture is not coming out clear on how it intends to use funds recovered from the botched Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) deal.
Last week, Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) confirmed receiving 516,000 Euros (about K635 million), which is part of the money the government recovered from United Kingdom-based fertiliser company Barkaat Foods Limited.
However, government officials did not explain how the money would be used.
When asked where the money will be channelled, Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dixie Kampani said he needed to consult.
“I shall get back to you when I confirm that the money is in which account,” Kampani said.
Agriculture Minister Sam Kawale did not respond to our WhatsApp messages or phone calls.
SFFRFM Chief Executive Officer Richard Chikunkhuzeni said he could not say anything about the money because it does not belong to them.
“It is Ministry of Agriculture money. SFFRFM, as the implementation agent, will wait for the ministry’s direction,” Chikunkhuzeni said.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Defenders Coalition Chairperson Gift Trapence has said they expect the government to come out clear on how the funds will be used.
“It is a simple and straightforward issue because the money belongs to Malawians. We hope that authorities will follow due processes. We have financial regulations that guide on how recovered funds should be used. What we can ask is that the government should be open enough on the issue and follow necessary procedures,” Trapence said.
Last year, the government paid K750 million to Barkaat Foods Limited to supply 25,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser but the firm failed to deliver on its promise.
It had to take Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda’s efforts for Malawi to recover the money.
