Malawi only signed an agreement with Zambia for the procurement of 200,000 metric tonnes (mt) of maize during the week ending December 5, 2025, raising uncertainty over when the staple will begin arriving in the country to cushion millions of Malawians who are facing hunger, The Daily Times has learned.
Sources privy to the deal confided in us that the maize may not start arriving until after December, despite earlier assurances of swift intervention. However, government officials remain tight-lipped as officials repeatedly referred this reporter from one institution to another without providing clarity. Commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) Wilson Moleni said: “NFRA is the procuring entity. Kindly engage them.”
On the other hand, National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Chief Executive Officer George Macheka insisted: “The Zambia maize deal is under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture. Kindly speak to the Ministry for the latest information.” Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Erica Maganga also redirected our queries back to NFRA and later asked for ample time to identify an official spokesperson.
In a response to a questionnaire, provided five days later, Maganga said maize from Zambia is expected to arrive towards the end of December, with distribution to hungry Malawians set to begin in January 2026. Maganga said all necessary international clearances and procurement processes had been completed.
“The maize from Zambia is expected towards the end of December, 2025. So far, all necessary international clearances and procurement processes have been completed. What may appear as a delay is actually the completion of mandatory procurement procedures that must be followed before any consignment begins to move.
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“For instance, when identifying transporters, we are required to publicly advertise, allow time for submissions, evaluate bids, and award contracts. These steps take time but are essential for transparency and accountability,” Maganga said.
She said the country already had over 38,000 metric tonnes of maize in its Strategic Grain Reserves at the time discussions for the procurement of maize from Zambia commenced.
“The Ministry of Agriculture, therefore, released about 26,000 metric tonnes of that stock for free distribution by Dodma, and a further 10,000 metric tonnes for sale in Admarc [Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation] markets at a subsidised price,” she said.
This comes despite President Peter Mutharika confirming in mid-October that Malawi would purchase the maize as a rapid response to hunger affecting five million citizens this year.
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The deal was publicly acknowledged by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema during the opening of the 2025 Southern Province Investment and Trade Exposition in Livingstone, Zambia.
“After the drought, we have surplus food and I am pleased to say to you that, last night, my brother—the new President of Malawi—called me and said, ‘Please keep 200,000 metric tonnes of maize for us’. We will do it with pleasure. Thank you to our farmers and, for us, it will be money; we will earn money,” Hichilema said. In October this year, the Government of Malawi signed a K135 billion ($77 million) deal to import 200,000 metric tonnes of maize from neighbouring Zambia. The agreement was officially signed by Malawian and Zambian officials in Lilongwe, where Agriculture Minister Roza Fatch Mbilizi said the government was compelled to act due to the severity of the crisis, which has left millions of Malawians food insecure.
“We had no choice but to source maize from Zambia to stabilise food supplies,” she said.
“We are acting swiftly to ensure that no Malawian goes hungry. The imported maize will cover food needs for the next six months, up to March next year,” Mbilizi said. On his part, Zambian Minister of Agriculture Reuben Mtolo said the agreement highlighted the importance of regional cooperation among African nations. Recently, Dodma and international partners launched the 2025-26 Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme in Salima District last month.
