3 arrested for contravening Admarc’s decree: ‘Buy 10kg of maize only’

Three people of Luchenza in Thyolo district will be standing before a court soon for contravening a decree set by government that the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) should sell a rationalized maximum of ten kilograms of maize per person in the wake of food shortages feared to hit the country this year.

Thyolo police spokesperson Edith Kachotsa confirmed the arrest of Charles Makondetsa (43), Kelvin Kambuwe (42) and Charles Makawa (42).

The three, according to Kachotsa, were arrested for “buying 20 kilograms each instead of the set 10 kilograms.”

Kachotsa said the arrests were made after other buyers, who were unhappy with the development, tipped the police.

She said the three were expected to appear before a court of law soon to “answer charges of conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.”

The three hail from the area of Traditional Authority Nasenda in Thyolo district.

Malawi suffered devastating floods the last season which left hectares of farm land with crops obliterated. As one way of helping the citizenry, government has stocked Admarc with maize which is being sold in rations.