Fertilizer subsidy program fails to benefit the poor, Mutharika admits
Mutharika: The rich benefitting
President Bingu Mutharika has admitted that the fertilizer subsidy programme has not been able to out rightly achieve its intended mission, because it has been hijacked by the rich and most powerful people at the expense of the intended poor people.
While announcing on Tuesday that effective this year, the 50 kg bag of fertilizer will be reduced from the current K900 to K800, Mutharika noted that rich and powerful people have hijacked the programme to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor in the rural areas, who struggling to access the commodity.
"I introduced this programme to enable the poor in the villages to access the fertilizer in order to boost food security. But sadly, it is the rich who are benefiting a great deal. And at the end of the day, they are selling maize to the same poor at exorbitant prices,|” said Mutharika.
“There is no fairness in the distribution of the coupons. Do you want me to come and personally distribute them," queried Mutharika.
He disclosed that this year, his government would introduce punitive measures that would ensure that the coupons for subsidized fertilizer reach the poor in the rural areas.
"I will not sir idle and watch as the rich continue to marginalize the poor as it has been the case during the previous regimes. I will fight for the poor through and through," said Mutharika.
During the last growing season, cabinet ministers were selling the coupons. And former Minister of Defense, Bob Khamisa lost his cabinet portfolio due to the same.
The fertilizer subsidy programme has been highly detested by the opposition, mainly Malawi Congress Party (MCP) saying it is discriminatory. But the Malawi leader has stood his ground maintaining that it has been a huge success since its inception.
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Comments (34 posted):
By the way why cant you blame yourself by giving ministers 2000 coupons each to distribute to your sympathisers? HYPOCRITE !
You can borrow aleaf from Tembo on how MCP used to do in providing food security.No-one can deny that during MCP rule there was maximum food security etc.
Musakule mtima go to Tembo and ask for advice only on good issues MCP is known for.Much as Tembo has his weaknesses as you have too but he has experience on food security which you are struggling to find out way forward
Bingu should agree that he is an amateur while Tembo and MCP are experts on food securuty hence he should ask guidance mukakula mtima you will dance to same last years tune.
ONLY ALLAH KNOWS BEST-NO-ONE ELSE
What is wrong when the president admits that distribution of coupons is flawed and wants to try another way.This is real leadership of looking at issues critically.
TEACH THEM BINGU SO THAT MALAWIANS STOP THEIRS TEN YEARS 1994-2004 HABITS OF KUSOLORA,BEGGING,LAWLESSNESS ETC.
If you must, then * would suggest that we should be blaming the MCP for intensifying the use of fertilizer. Fertilizer has damaged otherwise land which could have remained fertile for longer.
* would go as far as saying people have even decimated their heard of cattle because they do not need its ndowe any more.
Do not ask people to consult Tembo, he is the last person that has the welfare of this nation at heart. At least Muluzi is just ignorant and not malicious.
In my opinion, for what it is worth, there is no **** proof way short of universal subsidy for fertilizer. So taxes should go up to finance that, and buying prices for food crops should be comparable to tobacco prices. At the moment Malawians are suffering for the convenience of foreign smokers. Eniake olima akusuta chingabwe.
even a two yr old born after the truth of the programme will appreciate that this was a brain child of the Mighty President of Parliament Hon JZU .
Bingoo must be told that his time of wasting Govt resources by clinging to his coupon system will cease to exist after next yr as capable hands shall be in control of matters .* bet he shall be having his Ntonjani in Zambia ,possibly accompaned by his boy sticks .
we are so tired of this admin that does not listen to free advice and all they have succeeded on is harrassing and inprisoning oposition leaders.
Who will be distributing them this year who can resist the temptations of doing as others did last year? Will the government involve Angels whom * beleive are Holy and that they cannot indulge themselves in the scrupulous business of coupons? If not, then Bingu has to know that this year it will even be worse as many who will be involved will be sent by others to discredit his party. Not many are happy with him, so the very same people who see bad in him are the ones who will be involved in distribution and in the end make the worst mess for DPP to lose votes. Mind my word Mr. President. You will have problems this year and the problems will be very great compared to the previous years.
As my friend has put it try to ask Hon Tembo how MCP managed to boost Agriculture in past 30 years. MCP did not have dams as it is to day, but relied on rainy fed agriculture, MCP did not have this winter farming as being mentioned by your government, but there was plenty food, why today with dams and winter cropping? learn a leaf from Tembo and food security will be achieved.
Please refrain from giving John Tembo undue credit on the food security that we used to have in those days. The genius behind all that was the Ngwazi and not your Tembo.* sometimes think that John Tembo was a hindrance to the Ngwazi'* dynamic leadership.This guy was feeding the Ngwazi with bad information.
Tembo, has run out of ideas to move the nation in this dynamic economy. Are you not aware that Tembo'* proposal is ti implement a 'UNIVERSAL Subsidy?' Who on earth can implement such an unrealistic proposal.
It is common in africa for the rich to hijack projects that are meant for the poor. for example you try to construct houses for the poor, the rich will come and buy all the houses and rent them back to the same poor.
It is everyone'* responsibility to ensure that the programme is a success..opposition, ruling, civil society, etc including my friend MONDA and myself. DZIKO lathu ili tisadikire anthu kuti azunzike kenako tizizati boma lalephera...please please.
You may have a point but it will not appeal to anybody because you are full of unnecessary hate that is making you not to communicate effectively. * guess you are proposing that the opposition should help govt to perfect this program this coming growing season!
It seems people people wonder why l dont comment infavour of BINGU the reasons are on HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS:
How can bingu with all academic knowledge allow political amateurs (makanda)mtuumodzi,malopa to incubate treason cases and arrest people with their respected families and relatives to take care of?Imagine if these people were your parents how can you feel when they are associated with fake treason cases?
How does Bingu feel seeing Cassim chilumpha suffering with fake assassination case just because he belonged to the camp of UDF while he is busy enriching himself.How can he feel if he was in the shoes of chilumpha?How many years has he suffered?
Though he knew that it was fake treason case but they went ahead to arrest someone on hospital bed is that fair?
How can Bingu feel seeing someone whom he supported to become president turning back against him? And Bingu went ahead by saying BAKILI should go to hell after all BAKILI did to him?
To me BINGU is like TAPIWA who does not care about her husband who assisted each other in countless times but went on camera to show her womanhood.Her husband'* feeling is the same with that of Bakili-they all feel deserted and ******* after giving all their trust on someone who doesnt care.
The arrest of Mwawa was fine but what about Matilda anaba almost the same amount of money and she was given presidential pardon while mwawa'* arrest might have contributed to his stroke.Is that fair?
* know bakili,chilumpha etc have their weaknesses just like bingu has but do they deserve this?
l know BINGU is not an angel but he should be heartless up to this far
IS THIS THE WAY POLITICS OUGHT TO BE?
POLITICS IS NOT DIRTY GAME BUT PEOPLE IN POLITICS ARE DIRTY.
MANDELA'* POLITICS IS WHAT POLITICS OUGHT TO BE
BUT BINGU STILL HAS TIME TO CHANGE FOR HE IS CHRISTIAN HE SHOULD THINK ABOUT HIS CREATOR-
MAY ALLAH GIVE BINGU HUMANITARIAN HEART THAT CARES FOR OTHERS NOT HIMSELF.
ALLAH KNOWS BEST-is a way of giving respect to the creator for his unlimited knowledge for mine is limited
ISLAM COVERS WHOLE LIFE OF MANKIND E.G.POLITICS-HENCE ISLAM4LIFE
Chilungamo mchofnika kwambiri, Amwenewa ndi wokula mtima kwabasi asiyeni amvetsatso. Dziko salamulira ngati banja lako. You engage others in bringing an effective plans wosati dzeru za wekha.
Kuli amalawi ambiri adzeru womwe angathadize.
How can one compare MWAWAs case and Katopola...its not about amount of money being equal. one would wish you read the audit report to see the differences..
On Mandela politics, one would wish our mandela to be MULUZI...but does he fit to be one...and this is the same guy you adore.
On MWAWAs stroke...my take is that running govt is serious biz..how many people can one sympathise with. its not personal biz...kuti ukaba basi ndakhuluka...this is what brought muluzi down. he was too sympathetic with thieves at the expense of the poor.
MOST IMPORTANT, INDEED MONDA is entitled to his views. NOONE can shut somebody up.
Bwana if ponsible try ur best to get best solutions so that fertilizer will go to the right people, * mean to the poor Malawinas.
That has shown why your comments are always off the topic!
Vomit all your grieviancies in your own special article and then forget commenting irrelevantly on all other topics.RIP.
How can the President not be responsible for the actions of his ministers?
How can the President not be responsible for the actions of his ministers?
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