Citizens protest against Admarc: Maize shortage in Malawi

Armed police have turned back irate ordinary Malawians in Kasungu and Mtakataka who on Monday and Tuesday respectively took to the roads to protest against the sale of Admarc maize which is marred by gross maladministration, corruption and bribery.

In Kasungu, the protesters were blocked by heavily armed police who accused the demonstrators of going to the road without seeking police clearance.

The protesters said they wanted to present their grievances to the district commissioner.

In Mtakataka, Dedza, the protestors spontaneously took to the road because Admarc clerks were refusing to sell the maize yet there were a lot of maize in stock.

President Peter Mutharika has repeatedly said no Malawian will die of hunger but ordinary

Malawians are failing to access the grain in state run Admarc markets because of corruption, bribery and maladministration.

Admarc maize is selling at K5500 per 50kg bag whilst vendors are selling the same bag with same weight at K13,000.

A commodity survey issued on Monday by a consumer organisation, Centre for Social Concern says this is the first time in six years that maize prices have gone up by over 70 per cent.

Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace coordinator in Chikhwawa, Louis Pyadungu said the scenario would push children in child labour and early marriages and asked the government to asset its authority on Admarc markets.

Centre for Social Concern says the same bag of maize same time last year was selling at K5000 by the same vendors.