President Peter Mutharika has now allowed Malawi local farmers to resume exporting maize after a two-year ban following a larger-than-expected 2017 maize harvest. Mutharika said on Monday that dthe ban has been lifted with immediate effect. He made the announcement when he made an unannounced visit to Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) Head Offices […]
State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) has been asked by the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to be accountable on the K4.4 billion proceeds it got from selling government maize. Admarc, embroiled in maize scam following questionable maize imports from Zambia, had K4 billion realised from the sale of SS530 448 tonnes […]
National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Chief Executive Officer Nasinuku Saukila has announced that NFRA has dumps off tender process which were advertised in the media. “We would like to make one statement today regarding the tender process. The analysis of the bids has strengthened our position that the public’s response was indeed overwhelming. It is […]
Malawi Government ban on maize export is not working to it expectation following revelations that between June and July a total of 3,519 metric tonnes of maize illegally crossed the borders into Tanzania and Mozambique a development that is feared to result into severe shortage of the staple in the coming months. In a Regional […]
President Peter Mutharika has again put his foot down on stopping local farmers exporting maize, maintaining a two-year ban, saying the ban would be lifted only when all Strategic Grain Reserves (SGR) in the country are filled up. Mutharika said this on Wednesday when presided over the official opening of this year’s 14th National Agriculture Fair at […]
Malawi Defense Force (MDF) have vehemently denied report that two of i ts soldiers from Chilumba Barack escorted a truck that was smuggling maize to Tanzania through Karonga-Songwe border road. The truck registration number RU 4725 was impounded by the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) officials at Kaporo roadblock on 26 April, 2017 at night after […]
A total of 50 vehicles have been impounded for being used to illegally export maize from the country to neighboring countries. National Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), James Kadadzera said the vehicles were seized in Karonga and Chitipa Districts engaging in the malpractice of transporting maize illegally to neighboring countries. According to Kadadzera, some people […]
Two soldiers from Malawi Defence Force (MDF) risk arrest after Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) impounded a truck which they were attempting to smuggle maize to the neighbouring Tanzania at Kaporo roadblock in Karonga, officials have confirmed. The truck registration number RU 4725 belongs to unknown business tycoon was aided by two soldiers in MDF Land […]
Smugglers are now getting maize out of the country via Lake Malawi following government’s tightened security stance on roads and border posts at Songwe in Karonga and Chitipa districts, Nyasa Times has established. The smugglers have tactfully abandoned the road and are now getting the maize out via private boats and canoes at Nkhata Bay. […]
President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has advised farmers across the country to stop selling their maize harvests to private traders as the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) will soon start buying the commodity. Mutharika made the call on Friday at Sanjika Place when he had an audience with religious leaders from the Southern Region […]
Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM), a body that stands for the interests of farmers in the country, says it wants government to open an export window for maize; and, government through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has said it is ready to issue the licenses. According to FUM, maize prices in the eastern […]
Karonga first grade magistrate Tabman Chakaka Nyirends has released on bail nine police officers arrested for allegedly soliciting bribes from drivers and unscrupulous traders who have been smuggling maize out of the country through Karonga district. The cops were arrested last month. They were entrusted to man Kaporo and North Rukuru roadblocks to check against […]
Sergeant Christopher Paloti, formerly of Karonga district police station, has been suspended for sticking to a presidential order that made him impound truckloads of maize – in transit for smuggling to Tanzania – belonging to his seniors, Nyasa Times has learnt. Paloti, who has since been transferred to Likoma Island, confided to us that the officer behind […]
Chitipa Magistrate court has ordered immediate release of all trucks impounded on allegations that they were smuggling maize to the Malawi’s neighbouring countries of Tanzania and Kenya. “Yes its true the court has released all the vehicles suspected to be smuggling maize on condition that the businessmen should not sell the maize,” said our source. […]
Malawi Police have arrested nine of its officers in northern border district of Karonga on allegations that they have been pocketing bribes from suspected smugglers of maize and tobacco. National Police spokesman James Kadedzera confirmed the arrests, saying the officers were manning Kaporo and North Rukuru road blocks. He said Police “will not shield any […]
The 11 people who were arrested by Police in Karonga for allegedly for attempting to smuggle maize to Zambia and Tanzania have denied the charge of attempting to export the grain after appearing before the court. The suspects – who include drivers and some owners of the trucks who presented themselves to the police last […]
In recent days, Malawi Defence Force (MDF) troops have been deployed to the northern border to prevent the smuggling of maize into Tanzania and Zambia. While this action seems a natural response during a year of national food shortage, four factors should give us pause for thought. Food supplies during the last few months have […]
As the government is struggling to control the illegal externalization of the country’s staple food, maize, it’s been established that the syndicate involves the head of the Malawi Police Service, Inspector General Lexten Kachama. Kachama, has in the last two weeks demoted officers who impounded tens of trucks that were illegally exporting maize out of […]