Malawi govt must heed ‘warning’ on maize shortage: Queues grow longer in Admarc depots

Malawi government has been urged to heed the warning contained in the report from the Famine Early Warning System Network (Fewsnet)  of the food crisis ravaging the poor southern African nation and “act now”.

Frustration is growing in Malawi over maize shortage: Multitudes of people queuing for maize at Rumphi Admarc deport .-Photo courtesy of Julius Mithi, Facebook
Frustration is growing in Malawi over maize shortage: Multitudes of people queuing for maize at Rumphi Admarc deport .-Photo courtesy of Julius Mithi, Facebook

A  Fewsnet report released on March 4, 2016  says  the maize stocks in the country will only last the nation up to end of March, about one month before the harvest is expected to begin.

The flagship newspaper The Daily Times in an editorial on Tuesday advised government that it should not be in denial and politicise the crisis considering that food is a matter of life or death.

“One of the things in the recent times, that the government has terribly failed to address, is the food situation in the country. Much as we agree that the country continues to face numerous challenges, the majority of the problems haunting us right now stem from the government’s failure to be decisive and provide solutions,” said the paper in its comment.

The daily accused the Peter Mutharika led Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government of failing  to provide leadership in addressing the food situation in Malawi by insisting that all is well “when, in actual fact, it is written all over that we have trouble brewing.”

In the paper, Agriculture Minister, Allan Chiyembekeza,  is quoted insisting that the maize stock was enough to feed hungry Malawians until harvest time.

But the editorial said rather than totally dismissing the warning sent by Fewsnet, government should  be “a little wiser this time by accepting that all is not well.”

It says: “ Proper planning is a must to counter the effects of hunger which they have neglected for a long time.The cost of neglecting the food situation will be immense.”

The paper says in these hunger times,  the government must put politics aside “and for once display to the people who voted for them that there is a solution to our predicament.”

It adds: “We very well know that it is politically correct to insist that the stock will be enough until the next harvest. But deep in their hearts, these government officials know well that the food situation has been mishandled.”

The editorial said the latest warning by Fewsnet  should be “the turning point” for Mutharika government to be “decisive and display a semblance of leadership.”

Meanwhile,  Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have planned endless vigil against President Peter Mutharika from allegedly being insensitive to maize shortage and economic problems

National Right to Good Network chairperson Billy Mayaya said CSOs want to put pressure on government so that it can start responding to issues being raised by Malawians.

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Chikutumbwe
Chikutumbwe
8 years ago

I DONT THINK THIS GOVT IS LISTENING FROM ANYBODY. JUST IMAGINE OPC HAS REQUESTED A WHOOPING K3.1 BILLION KWACHA AS BUDGET INCREASE TO BE USED IN 3 MONTHS TILL JUNE 2016. WHAT WILL THEY BE BUYING????

this is another form of cashgate!

Kadziotche
Kadziotche
8 years ago

I am not amused with this obvious perennial food shortage problem in Malawi. As a nation we do not seem that we want to deal with it. FISP fails us every year.Try irrigation,just a political rhetoric! Companies like ILLOVO have land and irrigation capacity to feed the country.They should be given a contract by govt to produce so much maize (of the quantity that we are always importing in deficit of expected harvest).A lot of forex will be saved and food shortages will be reduced if not eliminated. Govt (through Admarc) will be the monopoly buyer. NFRA can preserve the… Read more »

wachiona ndani
wachiona ndani
8 years ago

natural disasters are the cause of concern and no one should blame the president and his government its man made decision kuononga nthaka komanso chilengedwe ndiye mwati agwetse mvula kupewa ng’amba ndani cashgate escapee pompo!

Che Wanimiliyoni
Che Wanimiliyoni
8 years ago

This maize shortage is becoming a disastor now and its time the minister responsible for relief and disastor takes over control of Admarc. Those who happen to pass by Chinsapo Police Monday and Tues this week would have noticed a huge crowd of people wanting to buy maize. Who is the disastor minister by the way and how much did he score in that Sunday Times cabinet ratings?

Dr
Dr
8 years ago

Boma lazitsilu utha kutopa ndikulakhula.

Mccarthy
8 years ago

APM he must fall; otherwise he gonna turn this country like dustbin!!

Max
Max
8 years ago

APM he don’t have a problem!!

Max
Max
8 years ago

I feel very sorry for my country, Next time malawi you need to choose wisely, this APM is destroying the country, because him” he doesn’t have the problem!.

Sautso
8 years ago

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Chambe
Chambe
8 years ago

It reminds me of 1981 and 1982 when the situation was exactly the same as it is now. People survived and went through the same situation with UDF government. Nothing new the only thing that is new is how the pressure is being exerted on APM. There was no such a pressure to Muluzi and none to Kamuzu. All in all, Malawians are always aware that these situations have always been a repeat and are yet to recur irrespective of which party will be in power in future .

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