Malawi's Opposition Warns President Chakwera Against Selling Maize To Zimbabwe
Leader of Opposition in the Malawian Parliament, Kondwani Nankhumwa, wants a deal to sell maize to Zimbabwe by the country cancelled, in order to guarantee food security for Malawians.
Nankhumwa wrote a letter to President Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday, 8 June 2022, asking him to intervene and stop the sale of maize by the Agriculture Development Corporation (ADMARC) to the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ).
He said the sale of maize to Zimbabwe is unacceptable, especially considering that Malawi is already expecting a low yield this year. Wrote Nankhumwa:
I am writing you this letter to express my deepest annoyance following reports that the public grain marketing company, Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) is proceeding with the sale of 100,000 metric tonnes of maize to Grain Millers of Zimbabwe despite a recent assurance by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Honourable Sosten Gwengwe, that the maize would not be sold.
Mr President, you may be well aware that many experts, as well as ordinary Malawians, are against this sale of maize by ADMARC precisely because all indications are that many households are likely to face hunger this year due to an anticipated low yield.
… As the Head of State and Government, your primary responsibility is to ensure that Malawians are food secure aside from protecting them from other socio-economic challenges.
Let me, therefore, warn Your Excellency that the opposition shall hold you personally responsible for any loss of life to hunger as a result of the sale of this maize.
Nankhumwa also warned that he is prepared to seek legal redress on behalf of the people of Malawi should ADMARC go ahead with the sale.
According to reports, ADMARC is selling 100,000 metric tonnes of maize to GMAZ at the price of $22 million.
