CAMA demands inquiry on rotten maize

Malawi’s consumer rights body Consumers Association of Malawi is demanding an inquiry into circumstances that led to the rotting of about 40,000 metric tones at Kanengo storage silos.

The rotten maize was enough to distribute 400,000 families.

CAMA Executive Director John Kapito said this was a mockery to the many people that have been sleeping at Admarc depots to buy the grain.

“We would want an inquiry beginning from the president herself, and all those responsible. Why did they wait for maize to rot when people were queuing for the grain in Admarc markets,” said Kapito.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ulemu Chilapondwa confirmed to the media that government was told of the need to rehabilitate some of the silos.

“Of course NFRA told us that the silos had problem but they did not inform us that maize would go bad until recently,” said Chilapondwa.

Meanwhile government has sent NFRA Chief Executive Officer Nasinuku Saukila on forced leave following the blunder.