Govt officials, Police ripping from poor souls

Poor Malawians have to bribe officers to buy subsidised fertiliser

The Malawi Police Service has warned its officers guarding selling points of the subsidised fertiliser and other government officials against receiving bribes from poor souls wanting to buy fertiliser.  

The development follows growing incidents of the security officers involved in the distribution and selling of the subsidized fertilizer demanding bribes in monetary form from the already needy people for them to get assisted. 

In a media statement, Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Willie Mwaluka said reports have shown that some beneficiaries of the subsidized fertilizer programme were falling prey of bribery.  

A recent incident occurred in Chiradzulu where two ADMARC personnel, Femasi Chimwaza, 25, and Alex Kamudzi, both working at Mzedi ADMARC depot as casual laborer and security guard respectively, tried to steal by deception from beneficiaries who wanted to purchase the commodity.  

The two told some people who had gathered to buy fertilizer at the depot to mobilize themselves into groups of ten people and surrender their coupons and K1 000 cash meant for buying the fertilizer including K200 each as a processing fee.  

After surrendering the money the people became suspicious after the two delayed to purchase the fertilizer despite collecting the cash.  

When they followed them, the two were in the middle of hatching a plan to disappear but they were immediately reported to Police who arrested them. 

Mwaluka said Police would arrest anyone including its officers found receiving or giving bribes for easy access to the commodities.  

He also urged the public to report on any suspicious activities relating to the selling, transportation and delivery of coupons, fertilizers, seeds and other inputs under the subsidy program.