MCP MP blast Bingu on coupon system

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Dowa North legislator, Alice Ntodwa Mwale present at the ground breaking ceremony of the 34Km Lumbadzi-Dowa Mchezi road on Friday, told President Bingu Mutharika that the coupon system being used to access the subsidised fertiliser has proved to be ineffective and discriminatory.

Mwale said many people in his area did not get the coupons, consequently they could not apply fertiliser to their gardens.

"This year, there is hunger in my area. The coupons were made available to selected few. I don't know the criteria used. This system has proved to be ineffective. It is better therefore to find another system altogether," said Mwale, to a round applause from the crowd.

"This not an effective weapon in fighting hunger in the country," said the MCP lawmaker.

Mwale told Mutharika that it was unfortunate to note that people were being discriminated based on party affiliations during the distribution of the coupons.

The Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee of Parliament took a country-wide tour and looked at problems facing the subsidised fertiliser and seed programme.

Vitus Dzoole-Mwale chairman of the committee, said the committee found out that the programme "is a total mess, was not properly strategised and is highly politicised".

"The programme was highly politicised, particularly in areas where there are Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Members of Parliament," claimed the committee chair.

Mutharika, said although there are problems, his government will continue with the coupon system.

"Whether one likes it or not, this system is going to continue," said Mutharika adamantly.

"We will make sure everything should be in order," he assured.

Jokingly, Mutharika while commending the opposition parliamentarian for attending his function pleaded with her to throw her support to the budget in the National Assembly.

"I would like to thank you very much for this spirit, which is quite rare. Your opposition colleagues shun my meetings. Let me also ask you to extend this spirit towards supporting the budget in Parliament," pleaded Bingu.

"Look am constructing a road for you here, you should also support me," he lured Ntodwa Mwale.

Government admitted this year that the coupon system had experienced many hiccups this year.

There have been numerous reports that cabinet ministers and party functionaries were distributing them to party loyalists.

Former cabinet minister, Bob Khamisa was axed from the cabinet over allegations relating coupons which he also gave his pal Phillip Bwanali of UDF.

The opposition has always detested the system and advocated for universal fertiliser subsidy.