Govt denies proposal by opposition MPs to reduce maize prices in ADMARC

Government through Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Dr. George Chaponda has refused to bow down to the proposal by opposition Members of Parliament to have the price of maize reduced in all ADMARC deports across the country.

The whole issue was started by leader of Opposition People’s Party (PP) in Parliament who is also Interim President Uladi Mussa who asked Dr. George Chaponda to reduce the maize price, saying the current price is too high.

Mussa said Malawians are failing to buy Maize in ADMARC deports because of the price that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration has introduced.

He said selling the Maize at MK10,000/50kg bag of Maize could have been better off than the current MK12,500/50kg bag.

Mussa’s remark was supported by leader of opposition in the chamber who is also Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera who questioned Chaponda to explain the rationale behind the newly set maize prices.

Chakwera also asked Minister of Agriculture to explain to Malawians how much money government have spent in procuring the maize commodity and people involved in the procuring the maize into the country.

But in his response, Chaponda vehemently rejected the proposal to have the maize prices reduced, saying doing so it will be suicidal to the government.

He said the Maize currently available in ADMARC deports is for those people who have the buying power while those that cannot afford will be assisted by government through different programmes such as hunger relief project.

The response did not please most of the MPs especially from opposition benches who were seen shouting at Dr. George Chaponda.

Meanwhile Parliament will continue its debate on the matter today.