Malawi VP Kachali orders NFRA to improve maize deliveries
Vice President Khumbo Kachali has ordered National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to speed up release of maize grain into Admarc markets, saying the agency needs to be conscious of the needs of Malawians and find alternatives to its slow pace of operation.
Kachali was speaking at Mzuzu silos where he paid a suprise visit to NFRA depot in the Northern Region, saying he had heard the story of “logistical” challenge that is why he decided to see the operations themselves.
“Instead of loading a one or two trucks, please go to 10 per day. People are queing as if we do not have maize in the reserves. This is creating panic and we expect to see improvement from Monday,” said the Vice President.
Kachali said President Joyce Banda was keen to see that all Malawians have access to maize which is available in the strategic reserves and do not queue for it.
“Admarc too should not have a single selling booth which makes people spend all day and night at their market. I expect them to have enough scales and selling booths that they can sale to many people at the same time,” said Kachali.
He said Government expects service delivery institutions to always be mindful of meeting their obligations and offering quality service to Malawians saying excuses of logistical challenges such as lack of closed bays to load maize during rainy season were not convincing as management could have explored alternatives.
“You have been keeping maize for longtime, we expect you to know and deliver your expertise not just complaining of machines and systems which you are supposed to improve,” said Kachali, stressing that he expects maize to flood Admarc markets by Monday.
Minister of Agricuture Professor Peter Mwanza said he expects the Agency to find ways of improving delivery of maize to where people can access it and that most systems at silos were relatively new.
NFRA Chief Executive Saukira said his organization has still stocks for Admarc and the Mzuzu depot has 1800 tones for he corporation and will be distributed soon.
