Chakwera warns suspected AIP saboteurs as he assures farmers of cheap priced inputs
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has alleged that there are some fertilizer suppliers who are planning to sabotage his Affordable Input Programme (AIP) with a view to punish smallholder farmers in the country.
In his national address monitored on State broadcaster, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), on Saturday, Chakwera vowed that he will do anything to defend and protect the farmers who voted him into power on a promise of affordable farm inputs, among others.
“Munagula feteleza pamtengo wotchipa. Koma ena zimenezi sizinawasangalatse. Ndiye pano akweza mtengo wa feteleza mpaka kwam’bzyola K30,000 ndi cholinga choti akhaulitse inu alimi [You bought fertilizers at a cheaper prices. But this did not please some people. Now, they have raised prices of fertilizers beyond K30, 000 to punish the farmers],” said the President.
Chakwera warned that he will not tolerate anyone who conspires to sabotage AIP, vowing that whoever is planning that sabotage will face his wrath.
“Koma chomwe ndikufuna mdziwe ndi choti ine ndi boma langa sitingasekerere zimenezo. Sitingasekerere zoti wina aphe ulimi mdziko lino. Wina afune, asafune, alimi agula feteleza motchipa chaka chino [What you should know is that I and my government will not entertain that. Whether someone like it or not, farmers will buy fertilizers at a cheaper price],” he assured.
The President added that although prices of fertilizers have gone up internationally, and there are prospects that they could rise even further, his government will come up with measures to control the prices in Malawi.
“Ngakhale mtengo wa feteleza mdziko muno wakwera dziko lonse lapansi, ndipo mwina ukhoza kukwera mtengo pang’ono kunoku, koma chifukwa choti izizi zachitika padziko lonse lapansi, sikukwera kumene ena achita kwathu kuno pofuna kuti alimi akhaule.
Chakwera also assured that his government will maintain AIP beneficiaries at 3.7million and that he will not allow that anyone or village should be taken out of the register.
“Zimenezo sindilola. Chachiwiri, sindilola kuti wina achotse dzina la banja lina lina lililonse kapena mudzi wina uliwonsewo pa mndandanda wa anthu omwe atagule feteleza wotchipayu. Zimenezonso ine ndiye ndikukaniratu! Kumeneku ndi kutengera boma kumtoso ngati nyama ya galu. ngati pali anthu ena amene amasunga dziko lino ndiye ndi alimi,” said Chakwera.
“Ndipo ngati pali anthu amene ine ndinalumbira ndithu kuti ndidzawamenyera nkhondo ndi alimiwo. Ndiye yense amene akuchita zonzuza alimi adziwe kuti akulimbana ndi Chakwera ndipo sadzikwanitsa, ayi! Zomwe boma langa litachite pa nkhani imeneyi, tilengeza masiku akubwerawa. Koman lero ndimafuna ndineneretu kuti pulogalamu ya AIP sindilola kuti iwonongedwe [If there are people I swore to defend, they are farmers. As such, whoever is plotting to victimize them will attract my wrath,” he warned.
This is vood economics. You will bankrupt the country if you continue with this trend. When will this government take responsibility and stop deflecting and disracting? Everything is superficial with this government, it’s about power and control. Unfortunately the media and other non state actors are in tank with this government so its not held accountable or ca called out. I feel sorry for the gullible and naive voters.
The funny thing is last year originally 4.2million people were targeted but this was cut to 3.4million. Why is cutting this year a big deal. Fertilizer is up everywhere. In TZ it’s at around $38 a bag. In Zambia it’s over $40 a bag. Surely there is no way in Malawi we can ask business people to lower prices. The economy can crush if u insist on same beneficiaries at subsidized price. It can also crush because this has increased the demand for forex remarkably. It was announced a month ago beneficiaries will be cut and the president knew. Now… Read more »
That’s leadership ,osati kungowonera zinthu getting out of hands.Looking forward to your detailed action plan,ena ayambakale kumva nazo mmimba tawonani mmalo moyamikira akukamba za 2025 elections,who knows tomorrow?
Fertiliser, just like any other import, is brought into the country by government. Government sets the prices based on the wholesale prices it sales to retailers. Simply put, if prices are too high, government has powers to go out there and enquire from those whose prices are exorbitant. In other words, the only conclusion one can make is that prices determination follows government price tag. Playing double standards by wearing two faces will not solve anything. Instead of wasting time talking to nobody on radios/TV, go to the culprits. We have had enough of these addresses but no action. Till… Read more »
This issue is all about the cost to business and it will be out of touch for someone to bring rhetoric speech just to please voters. Business it’s first objective is to make profit! If it cost business let’s say K35, 000.00 to import fertilizer it will be a complete collapse of such a business to sell that fertilizer at K4, 000.00. If business is detrimental like that, then let government open its own shops and start importing fertilizer at the cost of let’s say K35, 000.00 and sell it at K4, 000.00. What government cannot do is to force… Read more »
Not sure how someone can sabotage the AIP a Government program which allows small holder farmers to buy fertilizer for k5,000. If the government failed to negotiate prices the additional costs are on them not the farmers in the program. Regretfully those not in the program will be forced to buy at the new world price of k40,000. Biggest saboteurs to the AIP will be the government itself for incompetence for failing to negotiate and procure enough fertilizer at a reasonable price. Those farmers in the AIP who are found selling their fertilizer should be removed from the program. Government… Read more »
Kkkkkk Nyenkhwe cheap politics
Amalawi siwopusa akumawona zomwe mkuchita inu a Tonse.
2025 just around the corner.