Malawi Police in operation to stop maize smuggling
Malawi Police have deployed officers on the road from Karonga to Songwe Border with Tanzania as one way of stopping maize smuggling.
Karonga Business Association (KBA) has, however, complained against the move, saying the operation is affecting businesses in the area.
Commissioner of police for the North, Wilson Matinga, said on Wednesday they want to control smuggling of food crops to Tanzania.
“The country is facing shortage of food and this is one way of [ensuring] that no maize is taken out of the country,” said Matinga.
But KBA treasurer John Phiri said on Tuesday the police are also stopping local maize movement.
“For example, I have a shop at Kaporo and another one at Pusi [Karonga North]. But we cannot take maize there. This has made many businesspeople in Karonga suffer,” said Phiri.
He, however, backed government’s initiative to stop maize smuggling.
“If they are serious in stopping maize smuggling, they should be patrolling the border not within the country,” he said.
