‘Austerity? Not here’: Admarc CEO Botolo spends 10 months in lodges

The chief executive of cash-strapped state grain trader Admarc has spent about 10 months living in lodges at the corporation’s expense.

Ben Botolo, a former secretary to the Treasury who was appointed in December last year, has yet to move into the official house at Mudi residential estate in Blantyre. He says it is not habitable and is being renovated.

A senior official in the Office of the President and Cabinet, who asked not to be named, questioned why he has not moved in while the work goes on.

“This does not speak to the spirit of austerity measures,” the official said. “If the other CEO lived in there then it must be fit enough for anyone.”

Botolo shared videos showing an old, unpainted house that appears to be under renovation. He said his predecessor, Daniel Makata, left it in “tatters”.

Makata disputes that, saying he left in February, though his contract ran to June.

“If the house was in tatters I would not have lived there,” he said.

Botolo said Admarc has lacked the money to finish the work but expects it to be done this month.

He said he avoids hotels in favour of cheaper lodges costing about K135,000 a day, and works between Lilongwe and Blantyre on matters including salary payments.

He accepted the arrangement could attract criticism but said his priority was reviving Admarc.

The row comes as Admarc told the public in March it needs K144 billion to operate and restore itself during 2026/27.

Admarc board chairperson Grey Nyandule Phiri and Comptroller for Statutory Corporations Stuart Ligomeka have not commented on the matter.