Mzuzu Police Arrest Five Over K20 Million Fertilizer Theft
Published on January 13, 2026 at 8:03 AM by Evance Kapito
Police in Mzuzu have arrested five people for allegedly stealing 145 bags of subsidised fertiliser valued at about K20 million from the Madise Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRM) satellite depot in Mzimba North.
Mzuzu Police spokesperson Cecilia Mfune said the incident is believed to have occurred between December 21 and 22, 2025.
Mfune identified the suspects as Mathews Phiri, Bruno Kalemba, Kelvin Mtethiwa and Steven Msungama, who are employees of SFFRM Mzuzu, and Samey Yona, who is not an employee of the institution.
She said a Compliance Officer at the SFFRM Luwinga main depot in Mzuzu reported the matter to police after receiving complaints from the Mtwalo satellite depot, where beneficiaries claimed their fertiliser had already been redeemed using their National Identity Cards without their knowledge.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly redeemed 145 bags of subsidised NPK fertiliser using beneficiaries’ ID cards and later sold the fertiliser to vendors and non-beneficiaries,” Mfune said.
Police say the fertiliser was fraudulently obtained and diverted from the intended beneficiaries under the subsidy programme.
The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to appear in court soon to answer charges of theft by fraud.
